Differences between the Terms “Cultural Diversity” and “Racial Diversity”
Cultural diversity is a principle that recognizes and legitimizes cultural differences between different human groups and the existence, coexistence, and interaction between different cultures within one geographical area. Due to cultural diversity, one can appreciate different artistic expressions of a city, country, or region, which in turn have been altered or influenced by cultural expressions from other areas due to various factors (Levrau & Loobuyck, 2018). Therefore, the concept of cultural diversity is closely linked to the meanings of cultural identity and multiculturalism, which involve contact between different languages, ethnic groups, and worldviews, among others. Unlike cultural diversity, racial diversity is the principle that determines the difference between certain nationalities and hereditary physical traits. Due to racial diversity, it is easy to decide on the origin of a person (Levrau & Loobuyck, 2018). The benefit or value to the criminal justice system in recognizing these differences is that Police agencies, which have employees of different cultures and nationalities, have greater trust among citizens. Multiculturalism also helps police share experiences.
Challenges that Law Enforcement Officials May Face as a Result of Diverse Communities
Often law enforcement officials from diverse communities have different values and opinions. Such diversity of views can significantly affect the resolution of a controversial issue. Misunderstandings at work significantly affect the quality of performance of duties. Therefore, it is essential to listen to the opinion of another and argue the point of view. Also, law enforcement officials from diverse communities have hiring barriers, as law enforcement agencies have strict medical and educational requirements before hiring (Levrau & Loobuyck, 2018). Sometimes a denial of employment due to racial differences can provoke severe psychological trauma (Levrau & Loobuyck, 2018). Often, people cannot fulfill all the conditions due to cultural or racial diversity due to the organism’s physical characteristics or due to another education system.
References
Levrau, F., & Loobuyck, P. (2018). Introduction: mapping the multiculturalism-interculturalism debate.Comparative Migration Studies, 6(1).