THE CHALLENGE OF CULTURAL-DIVERSITY - HARNESSING A DIVERSITY OF VIEWSTO UNDERSTAND MULTICULTURALISM

Formal diversity-training programs have been growing rapidly, but anec dotal literature suggests that many such programs garner negative reac tions from participants. Charges of ''political correctness'' and ''wh ite-male bashing'' may typify such responses. This article theorizes t hat fundamental beliefs and multiple sources of influence must be take n into account to predict or participant's reaction. Burrell and Morga n's (1979) work on paradigmatic differences is used to identify polar opposite beliefs about multiculturalism. Ideal states of multicultural ism are then defined and predicted from these fundamental beliefs. The se belief systems are compared to sources of influence to predict reac tion to a formal diversity-training program. We conclude with some cau tionary dialogue about realistic expectations of diversity and the pol arizing effects of Balkanizing rhetoric.