Diversity as Europe’s DNA: A Vision for Peace and Prosperity

At a time when nationalist narratives promote homogeneity, the SoCareNet Europe Conference 2018 in Budapest showed the opposite: diversity is Europe’s very foundation – and embracing it is key to peace, prosperity and global credibility.

A European Gathering in Budapest

The 19th Annual SoCareNet Europe Conference (25–27 September 2018) brought together social service organisations, civil society actors and experts from 11 countries. I was extremely happy to be able to contribute both on the topic and in the very context. For the venue – Budapest, Hungary – added symbolic weight: a European capital where debates on migration, pluralism and civil society were especially sharp. The conference theme, “Diversity and Social Inclusion in Europe – Demands on politics, civil society and social enterprises”, underlined the urgency of the topic for Europe’s future.

Setting the Stage: Greetings and Commitments

The opening greetings framed diversity and inclusion as practical realities, not abstract ideals. Dr Mathias Hartmann, Rector of Diakonie Neuendettelsau, emphasised the strategic role of diversity in service provision, pointing to concrete initiatives such as inclusive education and sports. Hungarian State Secretary Miklós Soltész contributed a governmental perspective, reflecting both the challenges of minorities and the contested role of civil society in Hungary.

Ambition and Reality: The Diaconal Perspective

Heather Roy, Secretary General of Eurodiaconia, delivered a keynote titled “Diaconia and Diversity – Ambition and Reality”. She asked whether faith-based organisations are seen as gap-fillers or genuine partners in Europe’s social model. Roy acknowledged that diversity can be demanding but insisted that it is also an opportunity for stronger communities. Her call was clear: Europe must aspire to more inclusive services, participatory democracy and communities where no one is left behind.

From Corporate to Societal Value: My Contribution

I had two missions at the event, one talk and one interactive part. My introduction“Diversity in the European Context” expanded the debate beyond the social sector. Companies have long measured diversity by its impact on innovation, productivity and market access. But for societies, the stakes are even higher: diversity underpins social cohesion, democratic resilience and peace.

Here, I introduced the idea that diversity is not a challenge to be managed but Europe’s DNA. Migration, cultural encounters, linguistic plurality and religious variety have shaped this continent for centuries. Any political attempt to erase this reality – whether through nationalist myths or homogenising policies – is not only historically false, but also dangerously short-sighted.

Evidence: Diversity Creates Prosperity and Stability

As some politicians and some media tend to overemphasise the problematic side of, e.g., cultural, ethnic or racial diversity, it was important for me to bust these myths with three examples from socio-economic research:

  • Gagliardi (2014) found that skilled migration fosters innovation and local creativity.
  • Ortega & Peri (2012) showed that immigration raises income per capita and productivity.
  • Florida (2001) was a pioneer in showing how openness and tolerance fuel economic success alongside technology and talent.

Other research shows that the current ‘majority’ population benefits from migration at least as much as the migrants themselves do.

The conclusion is clear: just as diversity drives corporate performance, it also fuels societal prosperity and stability. A Europe that values inclusion gains not only innovation but also resilience and peace.

Interactive Reflections: Seeing Our Assumptions

The second part of my session was interactive. Participants reflected on how political agendas or institutional frameworks either foster or hinder diversity. They uncovered personal assumptions and considered how their organisations could place more value on difference.

These reflections revealed an important insight: culture is the invisible layer that shapes whether diversity is lived or suppressed. Values, narratives and assumptions form the soil in which inclusion either flourishes or fails.

Confronting Nationalist Narratives

From here, the discussion turned to the wider political climate. The toxic message of nationalism is homogeneity: one people, one culture, one truth. Yet such visions ignore the lived reality of Europe’s plurality – and risk dismantling the achievements of the past 70 years: reconciliation, welfare states, democratic institutions and cross-border cooperation.

When populist leaders vilify migrants or minority groups, they erode Europe’s strength and credibility. They turn against what has made Europe the most successful peace project in the world since 1945.

A Prophetic Vision for Europe

Overall, the conference provided a strong reminder: diversity is not a minority agenda – it is Europe’s collective identity. Since the end of the Second World War, pluralism and inclusion have been the guidelines for treaties, institutions and daily practices. They are not luxuries but foundations.

In my closing perspective, I stressed: Europe must continue to model how diversity becomes stability, how pluralism sustains prosperity, and how inclusion builds peace. Against the noise of populism and polarisation, the European story of diversity remains a role model for the world.