(From left) Universitas Islam Internasional Indonesia Professor Farish Noor, Indonesian Minister for Religious Affairs Nasaruddin Umar, Victoria University of Wellington professor of psychology Colleen Ward and Edelman international president Ed Williams during a discussion at the recent International Conference on Cohesive Societies in Singapore. — The Straits Times/ANN
WHEN different communities interact with one another regularly and are supported by government policies that encourage such mixing, the outcome tends to be positive, resulting in reduced prejudice, deeper societal integration and more economic dynamism.
Yet while the evidence is clear on the strengths that multiculturalism can bring to a society, the erosion of trust around the world has made it more difficult for such plurality to flourish, experts said at the recent International Conference on Cohesive Societies, held in Singapore.
