Ethnicity and Global Diversity - Book Report/Review Example

Most wars are caused by disputes related to land and resources. Most people sacrifice themselves to preserve the rights and culture of their countries (Kelleher & Klein, 2005). In Social Darwinism, technologically advanced communities are assumed to be superior. Assumptions are made that these societies are chosen by nature to rule over less developed societies. Holders of this theory believe that inferior societies are destined for extinction and can be ruled over complex societies. All humans have a common heritage, which enables them to understand shared basic needs and capabilities.

This is referred to as human culture. However, different groups have devised individual ways to solve problems within their environment. These groups contain members of particular societies and have led to specific cultures. For example, Americans and Thais understand the need for providing sufficient nutrition for their families. However, they use radically different methods to obtain food. These methods are based on different cultures of the two societies. Culture is defined as the moral, custom, law, and other habits acquired by an individual as a member of a certain society.

Different cultural traits are developed and integrated to reinforce each other. Holism means that cultural traits in a given society reinforce each other. Therefore, beliefs and behavior guides learned by an individual are consisted in their culture. . Changes such as fashion develop in one society and spread over to other societies. These changes are voluntary and are adopted depending on the tastes and preferences of an individual. Such innovations are called voluntary innovations. Adoption of capitalism by communist countries is an example.

Some changes, however, are adopted unwillingly. Changes such as colonialism are adopted forcefully and are referred to as involuntary innovations. Each society has different culture depending on ethnicity. Ethnic groups refer to people sharing similar culture within a larger society (Kelleher & Klein, 2005). These groups can also be called cultural groups. These groups are based on religion, origin, physical appearance, or language. Certain ethnic groups consider themselves as the original inhabitants of a particular group.

Such people are referred to as indigenous people. They have claim over land controlled by the state. These groups may incorporate people from other societies. Immigration refers to the movement of people from one state to another. Immigrants may move willingly or they may migrate forcefully due to war, famine, and political wrangles. People who flee their countries due to war or political reasons are called refugees. Immigrants move to other countries due to different reasons. Such people are referred to as transnational immigrants.

They settle permanently in the new states and are assimilated by the nationals of that society. These societies then contain people of different races. All people, however, belong to the same biological race; Homo sapiens sapiens. Human diversity has led to four distinct races; Europeans, Americans, Africans, and Asians. Physical differences within a society may lead to subdivisions. These are