The Perils of Diversity: Immigration and Human Nature (Radix: A Series That Examines the Intersection of Culture, G)

Byron M. Roth argues that the current debate over immigration policy is unlikely to produce a satisfying outcome since it takes place uninformed by the science of evolutionary psychology. He thoroughly reviews theory and research indicating that the success of any policy of mass immigration will be profoundly constrained by fundamental features of human nature. Prominent among those features is a natural bias toward one s own kind and a certain wariness of others, making harmony in multi-ethnic societies problematic at best. The problems for such societies are compounded when groups differ in ability and temperament in non-trivial ways. The author explores the history of immigration to the United States prior to World War II and contrasts it with post-war immigration in the West. The evidence marshaled makes clear that the earlier immigration experience of the United States is so different from current patterns that it cannot provide a useful template for understanding and assessing those patterns. In addition, Roth addresses the disturbingly undemocratic nature of the regime of mass immigration imposed by authorities on the citizens of all western nations in defiance of their clearly expressed wishes. He shows that the chasm between elite views and public opinion is so deep that current policies can only be maintained by an increasingly totalitarian suppression of dissent that undermines the very foundations of western democracy. During the past four decades, Europe and the United States have undergone and continue to undergo demographic changes of unprecedented proportions. The public debate on immigration (if one takes place at all) is between "assimilation" and "multiculturalism," in other words, between encouraging immigrants to adopt host cultures or maintain ethnic loyalties and boundaries. But is the assimilation of different races and cultures into Western societies possible or desirable? Moreover, can any multicultural or multiracial nation-state achieve lasting social harmony? Such questions are critical and consequential, and yet they have become increasingly unspeakable. In The Perils of Diversity, Byron M. Roth brings a much-need perspective to the immigration debate the science of human nature. Any policy of mass immigration, Roth argues, will be profoundly constrained by the fundamental features of human psychology. Prominent among these are heritable differences in intelligence and behavior, as well as the natural tendency toward trusting one s own extended kin group and being suspicious of and sometimes hostile towards others. Roth explores the history of immigration into Europe and the United States and addresses the disturbingly undemocratic nature of the regime of mass immigration, which is imposed on the citizens of Western nations in defiance of their clearly expressed wishes. The chasm between elite views and public opinion is so stark that current policies can only be maintained by an increasingly totalitarian suppression of dissent, one that undermines the foundations and identities of Western societies -- Back cover Byron M. Roth argues that the current debate over immigration policy is unlikely to produce a satisfying outcome since it takes place uninformed by the science of human nature. Any policy of mass immigration will be profoundly constrained by fundamental features of human psychology, prominent among them is a natural bias toward ones own kind and a wariness and suspicion of if not hostility towards others. The prospect for social harmony in multi-ethnic societies is thus problematic at best, and difficulties are compounded when groups differ in ability and temperament in non-trivial ways. Roth explores the history of immigration to the United States, revealing that the earlier, pre-war immigration experience was so different from current patterns that it cannot provide a useful template for understanding and assessing them. In addition, Roth addresses the disturbingly undemocratic nature of the regime of mass immigration imposed by authorities on the citizens of all Western nations in defiance of their clearly expressed wishes. He shows that the chasm between elite views and public opinion is so deep that current policies can only be maintained by an increasingly totalitarian suppression of dissent that undermines the very foundations of Western society.