| Do you live in a mono-cultural or multi-cultural | | | | Whilst in some societies religion is seen as being |
| society?. Often we find it difficult to define. What | | | | less important, other cultures see it as part of |
| is a mono- cultural society? | | | | their national or ethnic identity. A strong |
| Most experts agree that the essential traits of a | | | | mono-cultural official religion often is a strong trait |
| mono-cultural society are a common heritage, | | | | of a this type of society.. |
| belief structure, language and usually a mono-racial | | | | 6. Tribalism |
| identity. Since we live in a more globalized World, | | | | Citizens of strong multi-cultural societies tend to |
| many of our societies are essentially multi-cultural. | | | | be more tribal when they live outside their own |
| But still many of today's societies still share the | | | | culture. Multi- cultural marriages are unacceptable, |
| common traits of a mono-cultural society. | | | | the neighbors, the food and even the workplace |
| What are these common traits? | | | | tends to be 'tribal." - the influence of the new |
| 1. A common heritage | | | | society lessened by this strong cultural bond, |
| The historical heritage of the society could be | | | | between others who share it. |
| based on a perception that the nations, food, | | | | 7. Purchasing Goods |
| language, attitudes, racial features and religious | | | | Mono- cultural societies tend to support their own |
| beliefs are an essential element to the nations | | | | products, rather than purchase products from |
| identity. | | | | other nations. They tend to be proud of their |
| 2. A shared belief structure | | | | industries, and economic achievements- |
| The majority of the citizens of a country have a | | | | encouraging buying nationally produced products |
| shared belief structure, based on the nation's | | | | over others. This is beneficial in a recession, but in |
| heritage. These beliefs form the national identity, | | | | an expanding economy can hinder the choice |
| and 'psyche,' which create to many a stronger | | | | consumers have. |
| bonded society, but to detractors a nation which | | | | Mono-cultural societies tend to feel safer, as long |
| loses out on the benefits of a multi-cultural ethnic | | | | as you are identified as "one of the group," but |
| society. | | | | also conservative when it comes to accepting |
| 3. An inward looking 'psyche' | | | | change. Whilst threatened, these societies tend to |
| To many, mono-cultural societies tend to look | | | | bond together faster, but also can be guilty of the |
| inwards, rather than outwards, and this can show | | | | worse types of ethnic abuse. |
| in the nation's culture. Television programs and | | | | Historic examples could be the Armenian |
| news tends to be locally centered, and the | | | | holocaust by Turkey, or the past bloodshed in the |
| cultures identity heavily promoted. A degree of | | | | Balkans, and Rwanda- Events that generally do |
| ignorance of the outside World is often a product | | | | not occur in more modern multi-ethnic societies, |
| of looking inwards. | | | | which accept the differences in ideas, and beliefs. |
| 4. A suspicion of "foreigners" | | | | Recessions often create a more mono-cultural |
| The 'psyche" of a mono-cultural society often can | | | | outlook in societies, were suddenly even in |
| be suspicious towards "foreigners," and | | | | multi-cultural societies fault lines can appear- often |
| unacceptable of their beliefs. This could lead to | | | | in the guise of competition for jobs and economic |
| discouraging multi-cultural partnerships, to a | | | | rights. However despite economic hardship, |
| 'ghetto' mentality of separating cultures through | | | | without the color, music and openness of a |
| the areas they can live. | | | | multi-cultural society- we would live in a very dull |
| 5. Common religious values | | | | and limited World. |