A distinctive feature of large cities has been the presence of widespread diversity. Urbanized metropolitan areas in America and worldwide are hotbeds for various ethnicities, cultures, and ideologies. On the other hand, historically, rural areas have been less demographically diverse, which has continued to this day.
Data from the 2020 U.S. Census reveals that although the number of people living in rural areas who are ethnic minorities has risen to 11 million, or 24% of the population, the majority of America’s rural population, 76%, is still composed of whites, which is 35 million. That is a decline from the 2010 Census, which found that whites constituted 79.8% of rural inhabitants. Increased globalization and immigration has brought about diversity in American cities. The Cato Institute, a Washington based think tank, has estimated that over 100 million people have immigrated, both legally and illegally, to America from 1783 to 2018, and that number has continued to increase. This has been the largest movement of people in recorded history.
Is this trend inherently wrong? No. A society having a marketplace of ideas can help foster incredible innovation and growth. So long as there are shared fundamental principles and a national identity, the presence of different ethnic groups creates a vibrant society where people can enjoy the best parts of their unique respective cultures. In the right context, diversity is beautiful and beneficial. Sadly, increased diversity is a factor as to why many major cities are progressive. Gimpel et al. (2020) describe how cities allow for a greater presence of left-wing progressivism,
“Viewpoints that were once considered outlandish, exotic, or literally “unheard of” are propagated outward to a mixed reception of resistance and measured acceptance. The notion that cities are centers of innovation accords with their being founts of novelty and protective of eccentricity…Cities are favorable to greater psychological liberalism and are more progressive and accommodating of unconventional behaviors and beliefs.”
In highly urban areas, people encounter others with radically different mindsets and lifestyles that challenge traditional and religious views. All of the ethnic and cultural diversity contributes to an environment more tolerant of left-wing ideas such as critical race theory, socialism, transgenderism, and so forth. Increased exposure to these ideologies over time leads to the sympathy, acceptance, and endorsement of them.
But this begs the question—in a diverse marketplace of ideas, wouldn’t the true and good viewpoints inevitably arise or remain at the top instead of the false, evil, or crazy worldviews? Herein lies the crux of the issue—progressivism is unrelenting and tyrannical in its pursuit of total societal dominance. Progressivism advocates in politics and culture may arise by capitalizing on tolerance, but once they gain influence, they waste no time trying to silence opposing viewpoints forcefully.
Over the past few decades, the tyranny of progressivism has manifested in America in multiple ways. The Left shuns open debate and censors both Christians and conservatives on social media for advocating traditional views on marriage and sexuality. Conservative thought leaders are consistently attacked and harassed on college campuses or barred from speaking entirely. Through regulations, progressives seek to shove their agendas down people’s throats, whether it is mandating preferred pronouns, transgender medical procedures, or antiracism training.
When cities become more diverse, and different people bring different cultures and belief systems, it can dilute the prevailing principles of Western Civilization and Christianity. As whites, who are generally associated with conservative values in America, decline in population or leave highly dense cities, the presence of conservatism diminishes. Progressivism uses the vehicles of diversity and tolerance to become more prominent, and then in an ironically intolerant fashion squashes dissent to maintain its ideological hegemony.
