[trunc]

>Remember that a nation works best when there is a shared culture and a shared language - these things being inseparable - which encourage unity and community.

Which nations are these? Looking at the current major world economies:

- US: Federal. Many immigrant communities. English and Spanish.

- China: Two major languages, two SARs, each with another official language. "Chinese Tapei" with Hokkien. Regional cultures I'm not familiar with.

- EU: 24 languages, made up of multiple countries many of which have multiple official or minority languages.

- Japan: Shared culture and language, stagnant economy.

- India: Barely half of the country speak the most common language.

[nicoburns]

> - EU: 24 languages, made up of multiple countries many of which have multiple official or minority languages.

I'd argue that lack of a common language is one of the main factors in the UK leaving the EU. People here (in the UK) don't realise how similar they are to other Europeans, because they can't understand them or their media.

This problem is less pronounced for the rest of the EU, because they tend to be better at teaching/learning other languages there.

[ThrowawayR2]

> "Japan: Shared culture and language, stagnant economy."

Somehow ignoring that Japan had a gigantic economic boom in the '70s through the '80s to become the world's 2nd largest economy. Setting aside that relating shared language to economic strength is nonsense anyway, Japan does not bolster your thesis.

[derefr]

I don't know why you picked that list of countries in particular, but in most rankings of countries (by happiness, productivity, social welfare, GDP per capita, etc.) you tend to see several of the nordic countries, which are all quite culturally-homogenous.

I would highlight "social welfare" rankings in particular: people seem to vote more for socialist measures—measures that tax them to provide for others—when they care more about those others. If this correlation holds (between lack of cultural diversity and social-welfare leanings), then it would suggest that the cultures that care most about helping their "fellow man" are the ones in which one's "fellow man" is the least different from oneself.