Slogans like 'diversity is our strength', etc abound nowadays. By diversity, they always mean diversity in terms of 'protected characteristics' such as race, sexual orientation, never diversity in terms of opinion, class background or age. This is precisely the wrong way round

I think we should have a serious think about what diversity is and why it might be a good thing. It strikes me that diversity *is* a good thing in some senses - but it is actually far from being the only or even the most important thing, and it can actually be a bad thing

Diversity is simply the quality of having multiple different elements. This can mean that differing perspectives are brought to bear on something, which implies that diversity might be valuable when it's diversity of a characteristic that helps foster diversity of view/outlook

You can see how that might often be the case. Age diversity means you get both youthful energy and idealism AND the experience that comes with age. Diversity of political opinion fosters debate which may lead to synthesis or even consensus. It at least keeps the other side honest

And yes, diversity of cultural outlook, which often maps fairly closely onto ethnic identity, can be valuable too. Diversity of class outlook is definitely valuable, because the perspective of the working class can put quite a different spin on things. And so on.

However, diversity will only be valuable if it is within certain parameters concerning common values and culture. Once it becomes so extreme that it makes any common set of standards or culture impossible, it can destroy the ecosystem which bred such diversity in the first place

For example, diversity of political opinion is good, but if it stretches to allowing e.g Nazis who want to kill people in the 'wrong' categories, it is bad. If ethnic diversity gets caught inside a discourse that demonises the former majority group, it is pernicious

'Diversity' is a good that reflects human variation. However, what is also good - actually a lot more important - is unity, commonality, our shared life. If diversity becomes the only end, & an end distorted & detached from its place in the wider scheme of values, it is corrosive

Remember what R.H Tawney said: “Clever men are impressed by their differences from their fellows. Wise men are conscious of their resemblance to them.”

Without important things in common, shared values, cultural commonalities, there is unlikely to be any trust. The grease that oils the wheels of co-operation and mutual fellowship will dry up and the delicate machinery of society will start to grind and grip and breakdown

A note to the Left: Without a sense of commitment to the common good, mutual trust, a shared sense of endeavour, you can forget socialism. Societies where people have little in common tend to be distrustful & antagonistic and therefore more conducive to free market fundamentalism

So for once, I'd like to hear a politician or a university vice-chancellor drop the usual compulsory phrases about diversity and say: 'Our commitment is to unity and the common good: to the bonds of civic trust and shared morality and culture that make us a society.'