What is the advantage of a multicultural society?

Diversity of cultural origins means diversity of ideas and perspectives.

Synergy is the outcome of diverse contributions, where the combination is far better than the sum of the potential for separate contributions. There is something amazing that happens when people listen to each other and integrate what they learn from those who don’t think like them, who come from another point of view. One is the tinder; another is the kindling; another is the fuel; and yet another is the flint. Not one of these can create a fire alone. Neither can a subset create a fire that can be sustained. It takes all of these elements to sustain the warmth. What of the fundamental human element that strikes the fire with the flint and all the other elements that become the warmth? It is the synergy.

Cultures, as they morph, as they come together in a new place with new ideas, are part of the richness that is inherent in any culture. Cultures adapt to changes in environment, changes in circumstances— but always they remain true to their origins, to their past. Values, mores, language, cuisine, traditions, spiritual beliefs, the arts, and notions of society and government. Change is not abandonment. It is what a culture needs in order to stay alive.

Think of a forest made of only one species of tree. The weather gradually changes, permanently changes. The animals in the forest change. What becomes of the trees in that forest? In all probability, the single-species forest first becomes sick and, eventually, dies.

But a forest of redwoods and oaks and cypress and pines, subjected to the same changes in weather and animals would not only survive but would thrive. The balance would shift. Probably, new species of trees and shrubs would arrive to make the forest vibrant again. That is the sign of a natural culture where diversity is what makes the place healthy and the region thrives. That is how multicultural societies surpass any society based on a single dominant culture.