Hunkering Down: Do Diverse Milieus Encourage Insularity? Jack Jedwab Executive Director Association...

Hunkering Down: Do Diverse Milieus

Encourage Insularity?Jack Jedwab

Executive Director Association for Canadian Studies

January 2012

Does Diversity Result in Hunkering Down Harvard political scientist Robert Putnam author of

the widely acclaimed Bowling Alone recently issues a study which concluded that ethnic diversity triggers anomie or social isolation,” Putnam writes in the June 2007 issue of the journal of Scandinavian Political Studies. “In colloquial language, people living in ethnically diverse settings appear to ‘hunker down’ — that is, to pull in like a turtle.” In highly diverse cities and towns like Los Angeles, Houston and Yakima, Washington, the results of a survey he spearheaded found the residents were about half as likely to trust people of other races as in homogenous places like Fremont, Mich., or rural South Dakota, where, Putnam noted, “diversity means inviting a few Norwegians to the annual Swedish picnic.”

Does Ethnic Diversity Challenge Social Capital Putnam contends that in the short term at least

immigration and ethnic diversity challenge social solidarity and inhibit social capital. He argues that in the medium to long term, on the other hand, successful immigrant societies create new forms of social solidarity and dampen the negative effects of diversity by constructing new, more encompassing identities. Thus he concludes that the central challenge for modern diversifying societies is to create a new, broader sense of “we”:

Reviewing the Contact Hypothesis Putnam points to two opposed perspectives on diversity’s

effects on social connections. First, the contact hypothesis, which argues that diversity fosters interethnic tolerance and social solidarity-as we have more contact with people who are unlike us, we overcome our initial hesitation and ignorance and come to trust them more. It has often been assumed that in-group trust and out-group trust are inversely related-that is the more you trust persons like you the less you trust those who are different-stated another way the more you bond with your own the less you bridge with others. Putnam contends that the relationship is not necessarily zero-sum-in other words people engaged in bonding with like persons are often more engaged in bridging than has been assumed to date.

Methodology Canada This poll was conducted online in all regions of Canada with

a representative sample of 2,345 Canadians, between September 20th and October 3th, 2011.

Final data was weighted by age, gender, language, level of education, regions and household composition (with or without children under the age of 18) in order to obtain a representative sample of the Canada population.

A probabilistic sample of 2,345 respondents would yield a margin of error of 2%, 19 times out of 20.

Survey respondents were selected randomly from the LegerWeb Internet panel, which has over 350,000 Canadian households. A stratification process was applied to invitation lists to ensure optimal representation of respondents. The panelists were recruited randomly from Leger Marketing telephone surveys. Several quality control measures ensure the representativeness and accuracy of Leger Marketing’s surveys with its panel members.

Methodology International United States

ORC International conducted the survey on behalf of the Association for Canadian Studies among a sample of 1,019 adults comprising 503 men and 516 women 18 years of age and older. Interviewing fortates this survey was completed on September 15-18, 2011.

United Kingdom

ORC International conducted the survey on behalf of the Association for Canadian Studies in the U.K. with a sample of 1,000 adults 18 years of age and older. Interviewing for this survey was completed on September 16-21, 2011.

France ORC International conducted the survey on behalf of the Association for Canadian Studie among a sample of 1,001 adults in France comprising 487 men and 514 women 18 years of age and older. Interviewing for this survey was completed on September 16-21, 2011.

Completed interviews are weighted by five variables: age, sex, geographic region, race and education to ensure reliable and accurate representation The raw data are weighted by a custom designed program which automatically develops a weighting factor for each respondent. Each respondent is assigned a single weight derived from the relationship between the actual proportion of the population based on Census data with its specific combination of age, sex, geographic characteristics, race and education and the proportion in the sample. Tabular results show both weighted and unweighted bases.

Respondents for this survey were selected from among those who have volunteered to participate in online surveys and polls. The data have been weighted to reflect the demographic composition of the 18+ population. Because the sample is based on those who initially self-selected for participation. ORC International has exercised its best efforts in the preparation of this information. In any event, ORC assumes no responsibility for any use which is made of this information or any decisions based upon it.

Breakdown of numbers of Canadian Respondents Weighted/Unweighted

Maritimes 157/171 Quebec 584/558 Ontario 722/906 Manit/Sask 228/157 Alberta 211/245 British Columbia 443/307

Four Country Comparison

Canada, United States, United Kingdom and France (nb. Only question on diverse workplace/school was allowed in survey

conducted in France

My workplace/ school are ethnically diverse

Strongly agree

Somewhat agree

Somewhat disagree

Strongly disagree

Canada 31.0% 42.0% 18.5% 8.5%

France 17.4% 49.9% 24.7% 8.1%

US 26.8% 43.4% 22.0% 7.9%

UK 20.0% 47.5% 24.4% 8.1%

Canadians workplace/school most ethnically diverse compared to US, UK and France

Most of my friends share the same ethnic or cultural background

Strongly agree

Somewhat agree

Somewhat disagree

Strongly disagree

Canada 25.0% 43.0% 23.0% 9.0%

US 22.2% 44.9% 25.2% 7.7%

UK 25.6% 50.8% 19.4% 4.2%

Diversity of Friends Canada and US about the same

- I prefer living in a neighborhood where most people share my cultural background

Strongly agree

Somewhat agree

Somewhat disagree

Strongly disagree

Canada 15.0% 38.5% 32.5% 14.0%

US 14.1% 44.1% 35.2% 6.6%

UK 17.8% 47.4% 28.9% 5.9%

Canadians more likely than Americans and Brits to prefer diverse neighbourhoods

Canada-Language and Provincial Comparisons

My workplace/school is ethnically diverse

French English Other

Between 18 and 24 70.1% 72.9% 81.9%

Between 25 and 34 50.4% 70.0% 80.3%

Between 35 and 44 43.7% 73.9% 89.5%

Between 45 and 54 41.9% 57.9% 64.1%

Between 55 and 64 40.9% 62.7% 83.1%

Between 65 and 74 18.9% 48.9% 53.1%

Diverse milieu much more common amongst francophones under than over 25



Total 79.2 66.1 54.8

Between 18 and 24 80.0% 60.0% 61.9%

Between 25 and 34 84.0% 68.2% 46.7%

Between 35 and 44 73.1% 64.0% 57.2%

Between 45 and 54 80.0% 64.5% 48.1%

Between 55 and 64 77.3% 64.6% 69.3%

Between 65 and 74 81.4% 71.2% 47.3%

Canada’s francophones more likely to have most friends with same ethnic and cultural background

I prefer living in a neighbourhood where most people share my cultural background


Total 61.2 45.1 45.8

Between 18 and 24 58.0% 45.0% 56.7

Between 25 and 34 64.0% 47.8% 47.3

Between 35 and 44 56.4% 42.5% 48.1

Between 45 and 54 61.4% 47.1% 44.8

Between 55 and 64 61.4% 43.8% 55.4

Between 65 and 74 72.3% 44.9%

Canada’s Francophones most likely to prefer neighborhoods where people share their cultural

background

French My workplace/school is ethnically diverse

Most of my friends share the same cultural background Strongly agree

Somewhat agree

Somewhat disagree

Strongly disagree

Strongly agree 29.7% 32.6% 31.8% 57.7%

Somewhat agree

35.6% 45.2% 56.1% 30.8%

Somewhat disagree

24.8% 15.6% 9.3% 5.1%

Strongly disagree

8.9% 4.4% 2.8% 3.8%

I don't know 1.0% 2.2% .0% 2.6%

I prefer not to answer

Canada’s Francophones in diverse workplaces

more likely to have diverse group of friends

Canada’s Anglophones in diverse workplaces more likely to have diverse group of friends

English My workplace/school is ethnically diverse

Most of my friends share the same…

Strongly agree Somewhat agreeSomewhat

disagreeStrongly

disagree

Strongly agree 23.9% 18.8% 22.0% 46.6%

Somewhat agree 35.6% 52.0% 47.8% 24.7%

Somewhat disagree

24.8% 23.8% 23.6% 23.3%

Strongly disagree

14.8% 5.2% 5.5% 5.5%

I don't know .6% .0% 1.1% .0%


.3% .2%


Strongly agreeSomewhat

agreeSomewhat disagree

Strongly disagree

Alberta 23.3% 45.7% 8.6% 4.9%

British Columbia 31.9% 36.8% 10.1% 4.2%

Manitoba 24.4% 32.6% 14.0% 7.0%

Nova Scotia 18.8% 42.0% 10.1% 8.7%

Ontario 27.6% 34.8% 13.3% 4.3%

Quebec 25.0% 26.9% 19.2% 13.8%

Saskatchewan 15.5% 38.0% 15.5% 11.3%

Diverse mileu more common in British Columbia and Alberta

Most of my friends share the same ethnic or cultural background Strongly

agreeSomewhat


Strongly disagree

Alberta 17.6% 41.2% 30.2% 7.8%


Manitoba 23.3% 36.0% 29.1% 5.8%

Nova Scotia 22.1% 54.4% 11.8% 4.4%

Ontario 21.5% 41.0% 24.1% 9.5%

Quebec 33.8% 42.6% 14.3% 6.4%

Saskatchewan 24.7% 50.7% 12.3% 8.2%

Total 24.0% 42.5% 21.6% 8.3%

Albertans and British Columbians most likely to have diversity of friends




Strongly disagree

Alberta 6.9% 35.9% 30.2% 18.4%


Manitoba 12.9% 35.3% 28.2% 12.9%

Nova Scotia 11.8% 45.6% 20.6% 14.7%

Ontario 14.7% 33.2% 32.6% 13.3%

Quebec 18.2% 42.9% 24.9% 7.3%

Saskatchewan 8.3% 29.2% 43.1% 11.1%

Albertans, British Columbians and Saskatchewan more likely to prefer living in diverse neighbourhoods

Diverse Influences: With increases in Contact at schools, workplaces, friends and neighbourhoods more likely will tolerance inevitably rise in immigrant receiving countries?

Canada My workplace/school is ethnically diverse

/ I enjoy interacting with people from different cultures Strongly agree

Somewhat agree

Somewhat disagree

Strongly disagree

Strongly agree

61.2% 28.6% 26.5% 27.8%

Somewhat agree

32.9% 61.1% 56.1% 52.7%

Somewhat disagree

3.8% 7.7% 13.7% 10.1%

Strongly disagree

1.5% .9% 1.2% 6.5%

I don't know .5% 1.5% 2.1% 3.0%


.2% .2% .3%

More diverse your workplace the more you enjoy interaction with others

Canada-French My workplace/school is ethnically diverse


Somewhat agree

Somewhat disagree

Strongly disagree

Strongly agree

57.0% 26.5% 19.6% 26.9%

Somewhat agree

35.0% 60.3% 59.8% 55.1%

Somewhat disagree

7.0% 10.3% 14.0% 7.7%

Strongly disagree

.7% 3.7% 6.4%

I don't know 1.5% 2.8% 3.8%


1.0% .7%

Francophones in very diverse workplaces more

likely to enjoy cultural interaction

Canada-English My workplace/school is ethnically diverse

/ I enjoy interacting with people from different cultures Strongly agree Somewhat agree

Somewhat disagree

Strongly disagree

Strongly agree

56.0% 29.1% 30.2% 28.8%

Somewhat agree

38.0% 60.2% 51.1% 53.4%

Somewhat disagree

3.9% 8.1% 16.5% 8.2%

Strongly disagree

1.2% 1.2% .0% 6.8%

I don't know .9% 1.2% 2.2% 2.7%


.2%

Anglophones in very diverse workplaces more likely to enjoy cultural interaction

Canada-other than English or French My workplace/school is ethnically diverse


Somewhat agree

Somewhat disagree

Strongly disagree

Strongly agree

71.9% 29.5% 28.2% 29.4%

Somewhat agree

23.4% 66.3% 69.2% 41.2%

Somewhat disagree

1.8% 4.2% 29.4%

Strongly disagree

2.9%

Allophones in very diverse workplaces more likely to enjoy cultural interaction

Persons in Diverse Workplace/Schools Agree majority

should try harder to accept difference

The majority should try harder to accept the

customs and traditions of cultural and religious

groups


Strongly agree

Somewhat agree

Somewhat disagree

Strongly disagree

Strongly agree 27.5% 11.9% 8.2% 7.1%

Somewhat agree 34.0% 41.7% 31.7% 29.6%

Somewhat disagree 22.9% 26.8% 40.9% 27.8%

Strongly disagree 11.1% 15.2% 16.8% 29.6%

I don't know 3.4% 3.6% 2.4% 5.9%

I prefer not to answer 1.0% .9%

The majority should try harder to accept

the customs and traditions of cultural

and religious groups


Strongly agree

Somewhat agree

Somewhat disagree Strongly disagree

Strongly agree 17.1% 11.2% 14.6% 34.2%

Somewhat agree 24.6% 42.6% 43.6% 26.4%



I don't know 2.5% 5.0% 3.6% 2.1%


.0% .3% 1.8% .5%

More diverse friends=more acceptance of difference

The majority should try harder to accept the

customs and traditions of cultural and religious

groups


Strongly agree

Somewhat agree


Strongly agree 22.7% 7.6% 13.3% 36.6%

Somewhat agree 13.2% 41.8% 42.1% 36.9%



I don't know 2.8% 2.8% 3.2% 3.2%

I prefer not to answer .0% .6% .7% .3%

Those who prefer diverse neighbourhoods more accepting of diversity

Those in Diverse Workplaces somewhat less likely to agree

that immigrants should give up customs and traditions

Immigrants should give up their customs and traditions

and become more like the majority


Strongly agree

Somewhat agree


Strongly agree 17.7% 14.6% 16.8% 23.4%

Somewhat agree 25.2% 33.1% 35.1% 25.1%

Somewhat disagree

25.7% 34.9% 36.9% 35.9%


I don't know 3.6% 1.6% 1.5% 4.2%


1.0% .5% .0%

Immigrants should give up their customs and

traditions and become more like the majority


Strongly agree

Somewhat agree


Strongly agree 35.2% 10.3% 11.3% 14.4%

Somewhat agree 27.4% 36.5% 22.9% 19.1%



I don't know 2.8% 3.2% 1.8% 2.1%

I prefer not to answer .4% .1% .6% 1.5%

Those with diversity of friends less likely to agree that immigrants should give up customs and traditions

Immigrants should give up their customs and

traditions and become more like the majority




Strongly disagre

e

Strongly agree 57.4% 15.6% 7.0% 5.4%

Somewhat agree 22.4% 45.0% 22.8% 11.4%



I don't know 3.5% 1.7% 1.4% 2.5%

I prefer not to answer .2% .4% 1.3%

Those who prefer homogeneous neighbourhoods most likely to agree immigrants should give up customs and traditions

Having many ethnic groups weakens the

national culture



agree

Somewhat

disagreeStrongly disagree

Strongly agree 13.4% 9.8% 12.5% 18.5%

Somewhat agree 16.4% 27.7% 26.8% 28.0%



I don't know 2.1% 1.6% 3.4% 1.8%

I prefer not to answer .5% .7% 1.2%

Those in diverse workplaces less likely to agree that diversity undercuts national culture


national culture



agreeSomewhat disagree Strongly disagree

Strongly agree 29.5% 5.8% 6.7% 10.3%

Somewhat agree 25.8% 30.5% 16.0% 9.8%



I don't know 1.4% 2.0% 3.6% 4.1%

I prefer not to answer .2% 1.0%

Diversity of friends means less likelihood to agree that many ethnic groups will weaken national culture


national culture


Strongly agree

Somewhat agree


Strongly agree 51.3% 8.4% 4.3% 3.5%

Somewhat agree 28.5% 39.3% 12.7% 6.7%



I don't know .3% 1.8% 1.9% 2.2%

I prefer not to answer .6% .1% .6%

Those who prefer diverse neighborhoods less likely to agree many ethnic groups weakens national culture

Those in Ethnically diverse workplaces more likely to agree that diversity strengthens society

Society is strengthened by

having many cultural and religious groups



agreeSomewhat disagree Strongly disagree

Strongly agree 46.7% 21.2% 19.2% 15.4%

Somewhat agree 34.6% 49.8% 41.8% 42.6%



I don't know 1.1% 3.1% 4.3% 1.8%

I prefer not to answer .5% .6% .6%

Greater diversity of friends means more agreement with

society strengthened by pluralism

Society is strengthened by

having many cultural and

religious groups


Strongly agree

Somewhat agree


Strongly agree 24.3% 22.7% 31.6% 48.5%

Somewhat agree 35.9% 48.7% 46.8% 27.8%



I don't know 2.5% 3.9% 3.0% 2.6%


.2% .8% .0%

Those who prefer diverse neighborhoods more likely to believe diversity strengthens us

Society is strengthened by having many cultural

and religious groups




Strongly disagree

Strongly agree 22.1% 13.6% 31.0% 63.4%

Somewhat agree 21.1% 50.7% 52.0% 25.8%



I don't know .9% 3.0% 2.6% 2.9%

I prefer not to answer .3% .1% .3% .3%

Those in diverse workplaces somewhat less likely to

agree that cultural uniformity is good for country

A country in which everyone speaks the same language and has similar ethnic backgrounds and religious beliefs is preferable to a country in which people speak different languages and have different ethnic backgrounds and religious beliefs!


Strongly agree

Somewhat agree

Somewhat disagree

Strongly disagree

Strongly agree 13.6% 10.1% 8.8% 15.4%

Somewhat agree 12.9% 25.0% 19.5% 23.1%



I don't know 3.3% 3.7% 6.1% 5.3%

I prefer not to answer 1.3% 1.2% .3% .6%

A country in which everyone speaks the same language and has similar ethnic backgrounds and religious beliefs is preferable to a country in which people speak different languages and have different ethnic backgrounds and religious

beliefs


Strongly agree

Somewhat agree

Somewhat disagree

Strongly disagree

Strongly agree 22.6% 7.2% 6.9% 8.2%

Somewhat agree 18.7% 24.8% 13.4% 10.8%



I don't know 2.8% 4.6% 5.3% 5.2%

I prefer not to answer .5% .2% 1.0% 3.1%

A country in which everyone speaks the same language and has similar ethnic backgrounds and religious beliefs is preferable to a country in which people speak different languages and have different ethnic backgrounds and religious beliefs


Strongly agree

Somewhat agree

Somewhat

disagree Strongly disagree

Strongly agree 43.4% 8.6% 5.1% 1.9%

Somewhat agree 23.4% 30.9% 10.8% 4.2%



I don't know 1.6% 5.2% 2.5% 2.9%

I prefer not to answer 1.3% .1% .8% 1.3%

Hunkering Down: Do Diverse Milieus Encourage Insularity? Jack Jedwab Executive Director Association...

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