Cultural Diversity (AQA A-Level Geography): Revision Notes

Cultural Diversity

What is cultural diversity?

Cultural diversity refers to the existence of a variety of cultural or ethnic groups within a society. Culture encompasses many aspects of life including nationality, ethnicity, age and traditions, with immigration being a major influence on cultural patterns.

Urban areas, particularly large cities, are places where cultural diversity tends to flourish. Cities such as London, New York and Amsterdam have received migrants from around the globe, leading to the development of multicultural urban societies. London is considered one of the most diverse cities globally, with over 300 languages spoken and at least 50 non-indigenous communities with populations exceeding 10,000 people.

Globalisation has increased movement around the world, making it common to find people from different parts of the world living in major urban areas. In some global cities, these diasporas make up a larger proportion of the population than the indigenous residents.

Case study: Dubai

Case study: Los Angeles

Why is there greater cultural diversity in cities?

Cultural diversity results largely from immigration, with migrants more likely to choose urban areas. There are several reasons for this pattern:

• Employment opportunities: Cities tend to offer a greater range of employment opportunities compared to rural areas
• Points of entry: Cities are often the first point of entry into the country for many immigrants, particularly port cities
• Established communities: Cities tend to house earlier immigrant groups with the same ethnicity, providing support networks
• Specialist facilities: Established cultural diversity means there are specialist shops and religious centres already located in cities
• Tolerance: Urban populations tend to be more tolerant of immigrants than rural communities

Cultural diversity in the UK

The UK has experienced several significant migrations which have shaped the cultural diversity of cities:

Benefits of cultural diversity

Events such as the Notting Hill Carnival in London and Mela in Newcastle have become part of the British calendar. These celebrations serve to illustrate an acceptance of and interest in different cultures within UK society.

Issues associated with cultural diversity

Whilst cultural diversity enriches urban life, it can also create challenges for cities. Cultural diversity can put extra pressure on already stretched urban services.

Social segregation based on ethnicity

In some European and North American cities, different ethnic communities have become isolated from wider society. They have maintained their own language and beliefs whilst limiting their interaction with others. Local schools can sometimes become dominated by a particular group, which can lead to suspicion and hostility as younger people from different backgrounds do not get to know each other.

The ghetto

In American cities, the term ghetto has been used to describe an area of a city where the population is almost exclusively made up of an ethnic or cultural minority. These areas are often located in the poorer parts of cities, which wealthier residents have left and where unemployment rates are high.

Geographic patterns in London

The place study on Brick Lane and Spitalfields in Chapter 8 highlights the large concentration of people of Bangladeshi descent in East London. There are also geographical patterns for other ethnic groups in the capital, as shown by the maps above. The distribution shows:

• White British populations display a concentric pattern around the edge of London
• Pakistani descent populations are concentrated in three main areas of the city

Why does ethnic segregation occur?

There are two main types of factors that contribute to ethnic segregation in cities:

Self-segregation factors

These are choices made by minority ethnic communities themselves:

• Support networks: Migrants seek the support and security of living near friends and relatives within a minority ethnic community
• Specialist facilities: Provision of specialist facilities such as places of worship and food shops
• Protection: Protection against racial abuse and attacks from the majority population
• Cultural maintenance: Maintenance of culture, language and traditions

External factors

These are pressures from outside the minority community:

• Cheap housing: Traditionally, migrants have been a source of cheap labour, forcing them into areas of cheap housing
• Discrimination: Minority ethnic groups have been discriminated against in access to local authority housing and have been less successful in securing mortgage loans
• Hostility: Hostility from the majority population can drive communities together
• "White flight": Movement of the majority population out of areas into which minority populations have moved, a process often referred to as "white flight"

Changes in segregation patterns

Figure 9.24 shows the changes for Indian and Chinese groups across England and Wales. In London too, even the most diverse wards of Brent and Newham experienced a further decrease in segregation.

This suggests that whilst segregation remains a challenge, integration is gradually improving in many UK cities.

Policy responses: Interculturalism

Many countries have adopted a multicultural policy to protect and celebrate cultural diversity. However, some argue that at an urban level, this can encourage spatially and socially distinct communities leading 'parallel lives'.

To tackle the negative issues associated with ethnic segregation, a policy of interculturalism has been promoted by some authorities. This emphasises interaction and the exchange of ideas between different cultural groups.

UK legislation and policies

In the UK, there is legislation addressing:

• Anti-racism
• Employment rights and opportunities
• Measures to combat discrimination, prejudice and racism

Encouraging greater political involvement of different cultural groups can also encourage greater integration and provide a voice for those who may feel under-represented.