diversity & ethnic origin

Diversity linked to ethnic origin is part of the fight against racism and xenophobia. This angle is particularly noticeable in Europe with the rise of nationalism and the temptations of identity folds experienced by all European countries (to varying degrees). The concepts of integration, cooperation or co-development are positive. Assimilation, ethnocentrism, racism or xenophobia are clearly discriminatory notions. Ethnicity is little used in France like ethnic statistics, which are contrary to the republican tradition of universalism.The foundations of racism are to be found in the colonial past of France and several European countries, the link between imperialism and colonialism, and from an American perspective, the black question in the United States. The French manifesto “Osons la fraternité” is a positive and constructive way of approaching the subject and reconciling points of view.Ethnic diversity must be addressed at both national and European level. Fighting against racism and xenophobia means questionning ourselves about otherness and about the different facets that make up an identity. In France, the public policies on migration and integration carried out provide information on the way in which the reception policy has been approached, in the long term (integration defended by Social Affairs) or in the short term (security and emergency with the Interior). The fight against racism is also inseparable from that against anti-Semitism because ethnic and cultural diversity are closely linked, as explained by the platform proposed by the House of Human Sciences (PIRA) since 2019) or the action of the International League Against Racism and Anti-Semitism (LICRA) since 1927.In Europe, the defense of diversity and intercultural dialogue are also topics both internal to the European Union since the 2004 enlargement (intercultural diversity) and external with the migration policy which has become a community competence since the Treaty of Amsterdam (1997). The racial question helps to understand inequalities and discrimination linked to ethnic origin. It primarily concerns Europe with the colonial past of several European countries. The radicality and violent questioning conducted by the decolonial movement may raise questions; one must not fall into another equally unfair excess.A pertinent illustration of the fight against racism and xenophobia is suggested by the strategy carried out in the sports world - in Europe the fight of football clubs against racism and xenophobia of some of their supporters (hooliganism of ultras fan clubs); in the United States (but also in Europe) the role model of top athletes as standard bearers in the fight for diversity in sociéty.