Multiculturalism Strengthens Western Societies
False Assumption: Multiculturalism and diversity are inherently beneficial and strengthening for Western societies.
Written by FARAgent on February 09, 2026
For decades, championing the joys of a multicultural society has served as a badge of enlightenment and progressivism in the West, repackaged neatly as 'diversity is our strength.' This mantra sorted the good from the bad, the enlightened from the skeptics, while conveniently overlooking any substantive differences—genetic or cultural—that might complicate the rosy picture. Elites touted ethnic variety like a local cafe's menu, craving the cute folkways and funky cuisines, but recoiling from the full package.
Reality, however, proved less accommodating than the slogan. Importing cultures wholesale without regard for integration brought unwelcome imports: female genital mutilation, violent clan feuds, daughters targeted as 'sluts' for lacking chaperones, and clannish rip-offs justified as tribal virtue. Progressives tolerated these as long as they afflicted distant neighborhoods, not their own—a luxury belief insulated by class, imposing costs on the social underclass while Denmark's honest record-keeping sparked a national pivot against unchecked immigration.
Today, the backlash swells through votes for Trump, Farage, Le Pen, AfD, and Sweden Democrats, as the hypocrisy of 'multiculturalism for thee, not for me' fuels populist revolt. Critics highlight the chasm between performative diversity and its gritty realities, with mounting questions about whether ignoring cultural incompatibilities truly strengthens societies, though mainstream circles cling to the slogan amid growing dissent.
People Involved
- In the halls of British commentary, Lord Finkelstein stood as a voice for selective multiculturalism. He argued that Israel could maintain its Jewish identity without issue, yet insisted diversity was a moral duty for the rest of the West. [1] This view drew quiet nods from like-minded elites.
- Meanwhile, figures like Donald Trump, Nigel Farage, Marine Le Pen, and leaders of Germany's AfD and the Sweden Democrats rode a wave of discontent. They picked up votes from those hit hardest by multiculturalism's rough edges, turning backlash into ballots across the Atlantic and Europe. [1] Critics argue these shifts highlight growing questions about the assumption's universal benefits.
▶ Supporting Quotes (2)
“Though for sheer entitled arrogance, it is hard to go past the Lord Finkelstein’s of the world, who think it fine for Israel to preserve its Jewish identity, but diversity is morally compulsory for everyone else.”— No one in the West wants to live in a multicultural society
“And then they wonder why such people vote for Donald Trump, for Nigel Farage, for Marine Le Pen, for AfD, for Sweden Democrats, for … .”— No one in the West wants to live in a multicultural society
Organizations Involved
Progressive elites in the UK, the US, and across Western Europe pushed multiculturalism as a hallmark of enlightened policy. They promoted it from think tanks and university lounges, often framing it as a luxury belief that spared them the downsides. [1] These groups tolerated the frictions it created in distant neighborhoods, enforcing the idea through social and institutional channels. Mounting evidence challenges whether such promotion truly strengthened societies, as critics point to uneven burdens. The debate persists in boardrooms and policy circles, where orthodoxy still holds sway but dissent grows.
▶ Supporting Quotes (1)
“What is worse is when ostentatious multiculturalists are functionally just fine with all the bad bits, as long as it is not in their neighbourhoods”— No one in the West wants to live in a multicultural society
The Foundation
The assumption took root in the late 20th century, buoyed by the slogan that diversity is our strength. Proponents saw it as a moral badge, downplaying deep cultural or genetic divides between groups. [1] They focused on light perks, like varied cuisines and folk traditions, while brushing off incompatibilities as minor. This led to sub-beliefs that ignored traits such as clan feuds or deceptive practices, treating them as irrelevant to the broader good. [1] Critics argue this foundation rests on shaky ground, with growing questions surrounding its dismissal of substantive differences. Evidence mounts that such optimism overlooked real tensions in Western cities from London to Los Angeles.
▶ Supporting Quotes (2)
“Supporting the joys of a multicultural society has been a marker of being enlightened and progressive for decades now. It got repackaged as “diversity is our strength”, but it is an extension of the same underlying idea.”— No one in the West wants to live in a multicultural society
“They want “diversity” as a performative moral marker, and no more. They want multi-ethnic—like my local cafe—but not multicultural. (So, like my local cafe.) They may want it, but reality does not work like that.”— No one in the West wants to live in a multicultural society
How It Spread
By the 1990s, the idea spread through progressive networks as a litmus test for virtue. Endorsing it marked one as part of the good crowd; skepticism invited labels of bigotry. [1] Media outlets amplified this, celebrating surface-level diversity while steering clear of deeper cultural clashes, which became taboo topics. Elite discourse reinforced the narrative, using social status as a carrot and shunning as a stick. [1] In academia and funding circles, incentives aligned to sustain it, punishing doubters with isolation. Critics contend this propagation masked flaws, though the consensus remains contested amid rising voices of doubt.
▶ Supporting Quotes (2)
“one of the uses of “diversity is our strength” is to sort the good people—who endorse diversity is our strength—from the bad people, who disagree or raise awkward questions.”— No one in the West wants to live in a multicultural society
“Lots of folk have also pointed out that the diversity-is-our-strength folk are very much against noticing any inconveniently substantive diversity between groups.”— No one in the West wants to live in a multicultural society
Resulting Policies
Immigration laws in the UK, the US, and Western Europe drew directly from multicultural ideals starting in the postwar era. These policies opened doors to diverse groups, permitting cultural practices that sometimes clashed with local norms. [1] Governments enacted them with promises of societal enrichment, often overlooking impacts on working-class areas. Over decades, this led to integrations that critics say strained resources and safety. Growing evidence challenges the policies' unalloyed success, as debates flare in parliaments from Westminster to Washington about whether they truly fortified societies or sowed division.
▶ Supporting Quotes (1)
“Which is precisely how you see progressives behaving in the UK, in the US, in Western Europe.”— No one in the West wants to live in a multicultural society
Harm Caused
In Britain's industrial towns, the grooming gang scandals exposed harsh costs of substantive multiculturalism by the 2010s. Lower classes bore burdens like assaulted daughters, stabbed sons, and exploited public services. [1] Imported practices included female genital mutilation, clan violence, targeting of unguarded girls, and patterns of deceit that frayed community trust. Neighborhoods in cities like Rotherham saw safety erode under these strains. [1] Critics argue such harms undermine the assumption's claims of strength, pointing to documented suffering. Yet the issue stays contested, with experts divided on the balance of benefits and drawbacks.
▶ Supporting Quotes (2)
“not their raped daughters; not their knifed sons; not their ripped-off services.”— No one in the West wants to live in a multicultural society
“They don’t want female genital mutilation. They don’t want violent clan feuds in their neighbourhood. They don’t want their daughters to be sexually targeted because kaffir girls who go unchaperoned and don’t wear headscarves have shown themselves to be sluts and so fair game.”— No one in the West wants to live in a multicultural society
Sources
- [1]