UN warns of ethnic diversity timebomb

By Mike Wooldridge BBC world affairs correspondent

It is, the United Nations Development Programme says, one of the most urgent issues affecting international stability and human development in the 21st century - the claims for recognition by diverse ethnic, religious and linguistic groups.

Inclusive societies can avoid the worst aspects of 'identity politics'

And it is as important an issue for governments in the rich world as in the poor.

The UNDP's 2004 Human Development Report cites statistics that explain why "identity politics" have become so significant.

It says there are more than 5000 different ethnic groups in the world today.

In two countries out of three, there is at least one substantial ethnic or religious minority group, representing 10% of the population or more.

And the report says it has been calculated that around 900 million people face some form of discrimination because of their ethnic, racial or religious identities.

Debunking myths

The UNDP recognises that identity politics can be polarising and threaten peace and development.

This can happen, it says, when ethnic and religious groups are excluded from the larger society or denigrated and respond through political activism.

And it points out that from indigenous people in Latin America to ethnic groups in Africa and immigrants in Western Europe, many people are now mobilising along ethnic, religious, racial and cultural lines.

Read some of the key points and see graphs from the UN's Human Development Report 2004

At-a-glance

It is a process hastened along by the spread of democracy, advances in communication and the increasing pace of international migration.

The report argues the case for building inclusive, culturally diverse societies if the potentially destructive aspects of identity politics are to be avoided.

It believes that there are myths that need to be debunked.

One is that people's ethnic identities compete with their allegiance to the state.

The report says countries do not have to choose between national unity and cultural diversity.

Another is that ethnic groups are prone to violent conflict with each other in clashes over values and there is a trade-off between respecting diversity and keeping the peace.

The report says evidence suggests cultural differences and clashes over values are rarely the root cause of violent conflict.

Development and diversity

Another is that cultural freedom means defending all traditional practices and this may retard progress in development.

The results of ignoring identity politics can be disastrous

The report says culture is not a frozen set of values and practices and it cannot be a pretext for denying human rights and equality of opportunity - such as women having equal right to education.

And another myth is that multi-ethnic countries do not progress so fast.

The report maintains that there is no evidence that cultural diversity slows development.

Increasingly in recent years experts have looked at the relationship between governance and development and the observance of human rights and development.

This UNDP report, annually tracking the progress of development and the quality of life in countries around the world, seeks to provoke debate about the relationship between pluralism and development.

It says that in an era of growing democracy - and with more people on the move around the world - the cost of ignoring identity politics will be far greater than the costs of accepting and managing diversity.