Cultural diversity in unequal societies sustained through cross-cultural competence and identity valuation

Contemporary political discourse often frames valued cultural characteristics as threatened by interaction with culturally distinct groups. This paper challenges this perspective by demonstrating how cross-cultural competence (CCC) can sustain cultural diversity, even in unequal societies. Using interview data from an Amazonian ethnic boundary, the author shows the prevalence of CCC and develops a mathematical model incorporating CCC and group identity valuation. The model reveals that disempowered minorities can maintain their cultural norms by learning the norms of the majority, counter-intuitively sustaining diversity. Valuation of a distinctive minority identity, rather than rejection of the majority culture, can characterize CCC individuals committed to mutually beneficial engagement within a multicultural society.

John A. Bunce