3.

Cultural diversity and conflicts in

society:
Cultural diversity:
Cultural diversity is the quality of diverse or different cultures, as opposed to
monoculture, as in the global monoculture, or a homogenization of cultures, akin to
cultural decay. The phrase cultural diversity can also refer to having different
cultures respect each other's differences. The phrase "cultural diversity" is also
sometimes used to mean the variety of human societies or cultures in a specific
region, or in the world as a whole. The culturally destructive action of globalization
is often said to have a negative effect on the world's cultural diversity. The many
separate societies that emerged around the globe differed markedly from each
other, and many of these differences persist to this day. As well as the more obvious
cultural differences that exist between people, such as language, dress and
traditions, there are also significant variations in the way societies organize
themselves, in their shared conception of morality, and in the ways they interact
with their environment. ( Universal Declaration on Cultural Diversity, Article 1,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cultural_diversity#cite_note-1 )

Conflicts due to cultural diversity:

Cultural diversities can lead to many conflicts. Conflicts can be due to difference in
race, colour, religion, beliefs or gender. Globalization has led to many conflicts as
people now move from place to place taking their culture with them, but many
people still have little tolerance for the differences in each others cultures.
Whenever their beliefs or values clash conflicts tend to rise. In most of the conflicts
minorities are targeted by the majority. For example Hindus dont eat meat but it is
part of Muslim religion to sacrifice cows or goats each year, so in India places with
Muslim minorities might not be given the freedom to do this by the Hindu
majorities.

Minorities whose cultural values differ from American culture have greater difficulty
crossing cultural boundaries at school to learn.( John U. Ogbu, November 1992 vol.
21 no. 8 5-14, http://edr.sagepub.com/content/21/8/5.short )

The building of a mosque near ground zero caused a wave protests throughout
America. These conflict were a reactionary response to the social differences
between two cultures. Each city where this occurred possessed a diverse
subculture containing Muslims and non-Muslims.( Kristyn Hammond, eHow
Contributor, http://www.ehow.com/info_8445763_conflict-arise-diverse-social-
groups.html)
There are many Hindu and Christian minorities in Pakistan. Many of these are
sometimes not allowed to follow their culture and sometimes even their houses are
burnt down due to lack of tolerance.

There was a time when blacks were not given any rights and were only taken as
slaves or workers. But they rose against this oppression and fought for their rights.
But even now there are places where they are looked down on and are not allowed
to participate in certain activities.