Ethnic diversity and national identity

During the last two decades, there has been a striking and, so far as sociological theory is concerned, largely unanticipated resurgence of religious fundamentalism and primordial ethnic loyalties across the world. We have witnessed the dissolution of formerly inclusive but ethnically diverse states into ethnically more 'homogeneous' nations, the breakdown of social solidarity due to competing ethnic claims, and a repugnant process called ethnic cleansing. We have also seen the resurgence of religious fundamentalism and, in most industrialised countries, the marginalisation of minority groups from a central social institution (the paid labour market) as a result of high unemployment. The threat, and the reality, of ethnic conflict is now widespread. In culturally diverse countries such as Australia, ethnic diversity is sometimes seen as a threat to national unity. It is therefore important to examine the extent to which Australians today share a common civic culture that binds a culturally diverse citizenry together. This article examines recent data on the sources of national identity, its variation across ethnic sub-groups, and its relation to ethnic prejudice and to views about immigrants and immigration.