Death, dissent and diversity

Quote
"In a democracy dissent is an act of faith. Like medicine, the test of its value is not in its taste, but its effects." J. William Fulbright

News
For the second time in 2011 a moderate member of the Pakistani government has been assassinated. First the governor of Punjab province, Salman Taseer, was murdered on 4th January. Then on Wednesday the minister for minorities Shahbaz Bhatti was gunned down on his way to work; both men spoke of the need to reform the country’s harsh blasphemy laws, and the Punjabi Taleban have claimed responsibility.

Today’s Economist reads, “Until recently, Pakistan was a joyfully argumentative and outspoken place. Now Pakistanis are falling silent.” Although most people arrested under the laws are acquitted by higher courts, the mere accusation of blasphemy against Islam leads to intimidation or even murder of those accused. The majority of people falling foul of the laws are Muslims, but the 5 million Pakistanis who adhere to other religions (4% of the population) feel particularly under threat.

Once a community grows beyond two people, there is the possibility of a dissenting voice and the emergence of a minority. In any community – whether organisations, neighbourhoods, congregations or even countries – the quality of relationships between majorities and minorities go a long way towards determining the degree of freedom, cooperation and social cohesion.

There is always a tendency for majorities to assume they are right, and to consider the dissenting opinion at best naïve and irrelevant, and at worst dangerous and subversive. Yet history has proved that a dissenting voice – whether it is Churchill warning against appeasement with Germany in the 1930s, or a whistleblower in the corporate sector – can result in enormous benefit to society. Conversely, of course, minorities can exert undue influence, especially in a rights based culture.

Cultivating a genuine respect in relationships with minorities, and taking time to consider dissenting voices, are not only signs of a civil society, but are marks of wisdom also. Not only does a diversity of contributors lead to a more balanced judgment or a more effective solution, but the one dissenting voice may prove to be the key in bringing stability and prosperity, whether the group involved is a business, an army or a nation.

Read on...
Scott E. Page’s book, "The Difference: How the Power of Diversity Creates Better Groups, Firms, Schools, and Societies." explores how a team of people with diverse perspectives and cognitive abilities will always outperform individual excellence when it comes to complex problems and issues. Read a full review of the book here.

Walk the talk
How do you react to the minority report, the dissenting voice? Might it be time to stop and listen carefully to someone expressing dissent at work, at home or in wider society?

The last word
From the Bible, Proverbs chapter 15, verse 22: "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed."