Different only sometimes great

http://www.city-journal.org/html/eon2007-06-25jl.html
(I'll look for a link to the actual study, this will do for now)

This is odd. A Harvard polysci guy put out a study which came to the strange conclusion that diversity is bad, or at least can be (we're speaking cultural diversity here). I'm not very surprised that that was the result mind you (most studies would be a waste of money if I was around), rather that it was a Harvard polysci dept that released the study. I wasn't aware Harvard was still even doing anything up there that matters academically.

Back to the topic of the study. I'm inclined from my own observations to agree. While I'm far less afflicted with a cultural aversion than the common person, the people who are strangers in a strange land seem very inclined to this "turtle" effect. It's a classic pattern of immigration that these strangers cluster together to resolve into a sense of identity and heritage that they are comfortable with. This isn't the optimal situation, but I think we would find that cross-cultural boundaries break down naturally over time in a healthier fashion than the brute force efforts we're undertaking.

Besides this, it's intellectual diversity that is of paramount importance. Cultural diversity is presented by the vast quantity of 'cultural' choices we have only to avail ourselves of. Intellectual diversity is a resource of far less quantity. I'm not sure how we preserve it without engaging in an overhaul of our educational system. So long as conformity is the name of the game in schools, we're in deep trouble. People can easily dress however they wish and listen to whatever music they want, but argue with a teacher or professor and most people will become dismissive. That's a problem. Moving on.

One other more ominous point from the study made an indictment of social participation. By that I mean, fewer voters or socially aware/active people in a more diverse community. However cosmopolitan we presume these places to be from the diverse nature, it seems it breeds a hostile or at least indifferent attitude toward others (again, not personally surprising). This is in turn reflected in lower opinions of local leaders, lessened social (read: political) involvement, etc. Having fewer people inclined to voting and paying attention to the results of said voting with earnestness may be exactly what people in power want, but it's certainly not the ideal circumstance.