Institutional and Value Support for Cultural Pluralism Is Stronger in Innovative Societies With Demanding Climate

• Published in: Journal of cross-cultural psychology 2018-02, Vol.49 (2), p.323-335
• Main Author: Kwan, Letty Y.-Y.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cultural identity; Cultural Pluralism; Democracy; Innovation; Innovations; Leisure; Minority Groups; Moderation; Multiculturalism & pluralism; Openness; Tolerance; Uncertainty; Values
• ISSN: 0022-0221; 1552-5422
• DOI: 10.1177/0022022117746773

Past research shows that democracy is valued more in affluent societies with challenging climate than in other societies. Building on this finding, the present study examines how the amount of institutional and value support for cultural pluralism in a society is related to its climate and level of innovation performance. Cultural pluralism is defined as the societal condition in which minority groups within a society can maintain their distinctive cultural identities, values, and practices provided that they are consistent with the laws and values of the wider society. Institutions and values that support cultural pluralism include political democracy, tolerance for uncertainty, prioritization of secular-rational values, and openness to foreign cultures. I hypothesize that institutional and value support for cultural pluralism is stronger in societies with more challenging climate and higher innovation performance. I tested this hypothesis using society-level measures of harshness of climatic condition and innovation performance as predictors. The results showed that in societies with demanding climate and high innovation performance, their citizens tend to support democracy, are more tolerant of uncertainty, prioritize secular-rational values, and take more leisure trips outside of their home country. These results illustrate that innovation, through its moderation effect on climate, predicts the amount of institutional and value support for cultural pluralism, highlighting the reciprocal effects of culture and innovation.