Intergroup relations
When groups meet, their relationships range from mutual respect to violent domination.
From pluralism to genocide
Pluralism is groups keeping their distinct identities while living together with equal standing. Assimilation is a minority group adopting the dominant culture. Amalgamation is groups blending into a new culture, sometimes called the 'melting pot'. At the harmful end are segregation, the physical and social separation of groups; expulsion; and genocide, the deliberate killing of a group.
Theoretical perspectives
Functionalists note that ethnic solidarity can strengthen group bonds. Conflict theorists stress how dominant groups benefit from inequality. Intersection theory, developed by Kimberlé Crenshaw and others, argues that race, gender, and class combine to shape experiences in ways that cannot be understood by looking at one category alone. Interactionists examine how racial meanings are created in everyday encounters.
Worked example: two neighbourhoods
Imagine two neighbourhoods separated by a highway built decades ago. One received investment and good schools; the other did not. Even after laws banning segregation, the effects persist through property values and school funding tied to local taxes. This shows how past discrimination continues to shape present opportunities.
Flashcard
Groups keep distinct identities while sharing equal standing
Check your understanding
A city where many cultural groups keep their own languages, festivals, and institutions while participating equally in civic life illustrates: