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Out of the Melting Pot, Into the Fire: Multiculturalism in the World's Past and America's Future
"Heycke's book should be on college reading lists for journalism, sociology, and economics courses that focus on ethnic diversity. It's an excellent text of applied cultural studies, but much more than that, it's a riveting, even haunting book of synthesis, one that pulls together ideas from past and present, from statistics and journalism...Heycke has done on-the-ground reporting in (at a minimum) the former Yugoslavia, Sri Lanka, and Rwanda, and his personal, almost intimate prose style pulled this reader into his world in a way that social science nonfiction rarely does. I'm so glad I read his book."
—Garett Jones, Professor of Economics, George Mason University, The Independent A Journal of Political Economy
"Jens Kurt Heycke provides a much-needed, meticulously researched—and courageous—defense of the melting pot from classical antiquity to 21st-century America. His data and analyses show how and why the assimilationist model alone has always unified fractionalized ethnic and racial groups into a coherent national whole. Out of the Melting Pot, Into the Fire stands as a dire warning to beleaguered Western democracies that have foolishly rejected the melting pot that has so often proven the pathway to their survival and success."
—Victor Davis Hanson, The Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and author of " A State of Becoming"
"Heycke offers many other fascinating examples to prove his point regarding assimilation, from the Balkans to Rwanda to Sri Lanka. All of them strengthen the argument that the less a society retains a shared sense of identity that transcends racial or cultural markers, the less stable and more vulnerable that society will become."
—Casey Chalk, Law & Liberty
"The United States has been, from its colonial beginnings, a multiethnic society. It has had to choose between being a melting pot society—assimilating newcomers and, while appreciating different heritages, seeking a single national identity—and a multicultural society, with separate enclaves and official quotas and preferences for those deemed members of different groups. Americans are not the first nation to face such a choice and, in Out of the Melting Pot, Into the Fire, Jens Kurt Heycke shows how other societies have faced this choice—and why Americans should embrace the melting pot model in the future."
—Michael Barone, senior political analyst, Washington Examiner, and founding co-author, "The Almanac of American Politics"
"In light of today's continual onslaught of multiculturalist messaging, Heycke's argument is more than welcome. For all its fanfare and apparent popular support, identity politics, particularly on the left (but also on the right, it should be noted), only worsens social division."
—Auguste Meyrat, Religion and Libery, Acton Institute
As it absorbs record numbers of new immigrants, the U.S. faces critical is it better to promote a unifying, shared identity that transcends ethnic differences or to foster a multicultural salad of distinct group identities? Is it better to minimize ethnic distinctions or to accentuate them with diversity initiatives and ethnic preferences? Out of the Melting Pot, Into the Fire takes a global, historical perspective to address these questions, examining how societies, from ancient Rome to modern Rwanda, have dealt with them.
—Garett Jones, Professor of Economics, George Mason University, The Independent A Journal of Political Economy
"Jens Kurt Heycke provides a much-needed, meticulously researched—and courageous—defense of the melting pot from classical antiquity to 21st-century America. His data and analyses show how and why the assimilationist model alone has always unified fractionalized ethnic and racial groups into a coherent national whole. Out of the Melting Pot, Into the Fire stands as a dire warning to beleaguered Western democracies that have foolishly rejected the melting pot that has so often proven the pathway to their survival and success."
—Victor Davis Hanson, The Hoover Institution, Stanford University, and author of " A State of Becoming"
"Heycke offers many other fascinating examples to prove his point regarding assimilation, from the Balkans to Rwanda to Sri Lanka. All of them strengthen the argument that the less a society retains a shared sense of identity that transcends racial or cultural markers, the less stable and more vulnerable that society will become."
—Casey Chalk, Law & Liberty
"The United States has been, from its colonial beginnings, a multiethnic society. It has had to choose between being a melting pot society—assimilating newcomers and, while appreciating different heritages, seeking a single national identity—and a multicultural society, with separate enclaves and official quotas and preferences for those deemed members of different groups. Americans are not the first nation to face such a choice and, in Out of the Melting Pot, Into the Fire, Jens Kurt Heycke shows how other societies have faced this choice—and why Americans should embrace the melting pot model in the future."
—Michael Barone, senior political analyst, Washington Examiner, and founding co-author, "The Almanac of American Politics"
"In light of today's continual onslaught of multiculturalist messaging, Heycke's argument is more than welcome. For all its fanfare and apparent popular support, identity politics, particularly on the left (but also on the right, it should be noted), only worsens social division."
—Auguste Meyrat, Religion and Libery, Acton Institute
As it absorbs record numbers of new immigrants, the U.S. faces critical is it better to promote a unifying, shared identity that transcends ethnic differences or to foster a multicultural salad of distinct group identities? Is it better to minimize ethnic distinctions or to accentuate them with diversity initiatives and ethnic preferences? Out of the Melting Pot, Into the Fire takes a global, historical perspective to address these questions, examining how societies, from ancient Rome to modern Rwanda, have dealt with them.
276 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 11, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
January 12, 2024
"Multiethnic societies have a range of possible outcomes, with extreme violence being a tragically frequent one...."
Out of the Melting Pot, Into the Fire was an eye-opening look into social psychology, and the disastrous outcomes that man's inborn tribalism can yield; if left unchecked. I came across the book after I saw the author's recent appearance on Michael Shermer's SKEPTIC podcast, which I also enjoyed. The author drops the quote above in the book's intro.
The book should also serve as a warning to modern WEIRD countries, that have supplanted meritocracy with tribal identity politics and racial grievancing writ large. The author discusses many contemporary and historical examples of how this type of societal organization can have absolutely horrific outcomes. More below.
Author Jens Kurt Heycke was educated in Economics and Near Eastern Studies at the University of Chicago, the London School of Economics, and Princeton University. He worked as an early employee or executive in several successful technology startups. Since retiring from tech, he has worked as a writer and researcher, conducting field research in more than forty countries, from Bosnia to Botswana.
Jens Kurt Heycke:
Heycke writes with a decently engaging style, for the most part, and the formatting of this one was also well done. It is broken into well-defined chapters, and each chapter has a short summary blurb at the end. I like books formatted in this fashion, as I feel it helps the reader effectively retain the information presented.
The quote from the start of this review continues below, outlining the gravity of the matter:
The book begins by providing definitions of, and delineating the concepts of multiculturalism as a doctrine vs "the melting pot."
In essence, multiculturalism is defined as "the doctrine that public policies and institutions should recognize and maintain the ethnic boundaries and distinct cultural practices of multiple ethnic groups within a country; it supports group preferences to achieve diversity or to address past injustices or current disparities."
The melting pot is "a metaphor for a heterogeneous society becoming more homogeneous, the different elements "melting together" with a common culture."
As touched on briefly above, the meat and potatoes of the book is mostly historical examinations of countries that have attempted multicultural policies; with disastrous outcomes. What can sound like a good idea at the time can quickly turn into civil warfare and genocide.
In attempts to right historical wrongs, or redress past grievances, identity politicking has elevated one group over another, and/or has penalized and stigmatized other groups. Individualism becomes non-existent, and instead, people become identified by their tribal markers alone.
Being that people are inherently deeply tribal and fractional by their very nature already, societies that go down this path are risking calamitous outcomes with their promoting of division over unity.
To make this case, the author examines many countries in history that have done just this. Tragically, many of us who live in the West think that this type of social unrest, conflict, and possible warfare is a "them" problem, and that these kinds of things could never happen over here.
Heycke writes:
There has been a full-court press recently in Western countries to do away with judging an individual based on their qualities and merits. Instead, society is regressing back to primitive tribal markers and collectivism, and collective punishment. The dreams of early Civil Rights activists like Martin Luther King Jr have been hijacked by radical racial grifters, grievance collectors, neo-Marxists, Critical Theorists, and other assorted malcontents. Indeed (and sadly), judging someone by their group identity is the lens through which these types view the world...
In extreme cases, genocide has resulted from this tribalism. In the 20th century alone, there have been dozens of organized tribal killings/genocides. Killings of the Greeks in Turkey, Armenians by the Turks, the Hutus killing hundreds of thousands of Tutsis in Rwanda, and the Sri Lankans killing thousands of Tamils, are just a few examples (out of many more) of how bad things can get.
Some of the historical case studies and concepts covered here are:
• Multiculturalism vs "the melting pot"
• Factionalism Is an Innate Human Tendency
• Rome's melting pot
• The fall of the Aztecs
• Early Islam
• The Balkans
• Rwanda: Hutus and Tutsis
• Sri Lanka
• The positive example of Botswana
• Ethnic fractionalization (EF) and per capita GDP, education, corruption,
The book is heavily researched; with many citations and footnotes in the book's appendix.
The author closes the writing in the book proper with this pressing quote, which I'm including here because it is apropos to the discussion, and this review:
********************
Out of the Melting Pot, Into the Fire is a timely and extremely important book. Unfortunately, I doubt that it will gather the traction it needs to make a cultural impact.
It should be read by everyone before they decide to form a political opinion on how to arrange society.
5 stars.
Out of the Melting Pot, Into the Fire was an eye-opening look into social psychology, and the disastrous outcomes that man's inborn tribalism can yield; if left unchecked. I came across the book after I saw the author's recent appearance on Michael Shermer's SKEPTIC podcast, which I also enjoyed. The author drops the quote above in the book's intro.
The book should also serve as a warning to modern WEIRD countries, that have supplanted meritocracy with tribal identity politics and racial grievancing writ large. The author discusses many contemporary and historical examples of how this type of societal organization can have absolutely horrific outcomes. More below.
Author Jens Kurt Heycke was educated in Economics and Near Eastern Studies at the University of Chicago, the London School of Economics, and Princeton University. He worked as an early employee or executive in several successful technology startups. Since retiring from tech, he has worked as a writer and researcher, conducting field research in more than forty countries, from Bosnia to Botswana.
Jens Kurt Heycke:
Heycke writes with a decently engaging style, for the most part, and the formatting of this one was also well done. It is broken into well-defined chapters, and each chapter has a short summary blurb at the end. I like books formatted in this fashion, as I feel it helps the reader effectively retain the information presented.
The quote from the start of this review continues below, outlining the gravity of the matter:
"...My Bosniak driver believed the ethnic conflict in his country was horrific and exceptional, but he was only partly right: it was horrific—but utterly unexceptional. Collectively, ethnic conflicts around the world, from Bosnia to Sri Lanka, have killed more than ten million people since World War II.
Many Americans reflexively tune out news of these conflicts. In the words of one satirist, it’s just the “unspellables” killing the “unpronounceables”—peoples too distant or inexplicable to pay attention to. But as Americans, we need to pay attention, not just for the sake of the millions around the world suffering from ethnic division, but for our own sake. We must deepen our understanding of what it takes for diverse ethnic groups to get along and share a country, for America is rapidly becoming vastly more multiethnic..."
The book begins by providing definitions of, and delineating the concepts of multiculturalism as a doctrine vs "the melting pot."
In essence, multiculturalism is defined as "the doctrine that public policies and institutions should recognize and maintain the ethnic boundaries and distinct cultural practices of multiple ethnic groups within a country; it supports group preferences to achieve diversity or to address past injustices or current disparities."
The melting pot is "a metaphor for a heterogeneous society becoming more homogeneous, the different elements "melting together" with a common culture."
As touched on briefly above, the meat and potatoes of the book is mostly historical examinations of countries that have attempted multicultural policies; with disastrous outcomes. What can sound like a good idea at the time can quickly turn into civil warfare and genocide.
In attempts to right historical wrongs, or redress past grievances, identity politicking has elevated one group over another, and/or has penalized and stigmatized other groups. Individualism becomes non-existent, and instead, people become identified by their tribal markers alone.
Being that people are inherently deeply tribal and fractional by their very nature already, societies that go down this path are risking calamitous outcomes with their promoting of division over unity.
To make this case, the author examines many countries in history that have done just this. Tragically, many of us who live in the West think that this type of social unrest, conflict, and possible warfare is a "them" problem, and that these kinds of things could never happen over here.
Heycke writes:
"...Thus, as the United States has veered from melting pot to multiculturalism, there has been little serious discussion about how similar course changes have worked out in other countries. The reality is that both the melting pot and multiculturalist models have been tried many times in history. In some cases, societies have shifted from one to the other. It’s worth examining how it has worked out for them; perhaps we can distill some useful lessons from their experiences. That is what this book endeavors to accomplish."
There has been a full-court press recently in Western countries to do away with judging an individual based on their qualities and merits. Instead, society is regressing back to primitive tribal markers and collectivism, and collective punishment. The dreams of early Civil Rights activists like Martin Luther King Jr have been hijacked by radical racial grifters, grievance collectors, neo-Marxists, Critical Theorists, and other assorted malcontents. Indeed (and sadly), judging someone by their group identity is the lens through which these types view the world...
In extreme cases, genocide has resulted from this tribalism. In the 20th century alone, there have been dozens of organized tribal killings/genocides. Killings of the Greeks in Turkey, Armenians by the Turks, the Hutus killing hundreds of thousands of Tutsis in Rwanda, and the Sri Lankans killing thousands of Tamils, are just a few examples (out of many more) of how bad things can get.
Some of the historical case studies and concepts covered here are:
• Multiculturalism vs "the melting pot"
• Factionalism Is an Innate Human Tendency
• Rome's melting pot
• The fall of the Aztecs
• Early Islam
• The Balkans
• Rwanda: Hutus and Tutsis
• Sri Lanka
• The positive example of Botswana
• Ethnic fractionalization (EF) and per capita GDP, education, corruption,
The book is heavily researched; with many citations and footnotes in the book's appendix.
The author closes the writing in the book proper with this pressing quote, which I'm including here because it is apropos to the discussion, and this review:
"After considering the terrible consequences of ethnic divisions in countries like Bosnia and Sri Lanka, it is disheartening to see Americans advance the same types of policies and rhetoric that promoted and toxified those divisions. America has a regrettable past of racial and ethnic discrimination, but if the examples in this book teach anything, it is that the solution to past segregation is not even more segregation. The answer to past racial discrimination is not even more racial discrimination. Two African countries demonstrate this best.
While it was a British protectorate, Botswana endured extensive white racism. Yet it managed to recover quickly to become one of the developing world’s outstanding success stories. It achieved this not with compensatory preferences and racial payback but by completely eliminating racial and ethnic distinctions and by fostering botho, the Batswana version of asabiyah. It also followed the melting pot model, which has repeatedly demonstrated its effectiveness since the time of ancient Rome.
In proportional terms, Rwanda’s genocide stands out as one of the worst racist crimes of all time. Although the genocide occurred only a few decades ago, Rwanda has managed to recover spectacularly from it. Like Botswana, Rwanda accomplished this by “erasing race” and adopting the melting pot model. Rather than instituting ethnic preferences like affirmative action, it outlawed racial and ethnic distinctions altogether. Rather than dividing people into groups, it has sought to unify them with institutions like umuganda. Rather than brooding on past injustices, it has cultivated the shared asabiyah lauded by Ibn Khaldun.
The path taken by Botswana and Rwanda lies open to America. It starts with resolute and unwavering commitments to principles like those made by Israel Zangwill in The Melting Pot and by the children in Rwanda’s Nyange school:
There are no groups. We are all Americans."
********************
Out of the Melting Pot, Into the Fire is a timely and extremely important book. Unfortunately, I doubt that it will gather the traction it needs to make a cultural impact.
It should be read by everyone before they decide to form a political opinion on how to arrange society.
5 stars.
August 26, 2023
This is a well-written book outlining the causes of ethnic strife in various societies in various periods of time. Basically, those societies who strove to ignore racial and ethnic divisions in favor of a unified common identity, have fared much better in social and economic terms, than societies which have highlighted and perpetuated differences and past insults. Heycke uses scientific approaches to come to the conclusion that our American society would be much better off using the melting pot method of ethnic integration rather than the "salad bowl" method (highlighting differences). Also noteworthy is his reasoning against the proliferation of DEI (Diversity, equity and inclusion, often noted as EDI) departments in academia and public institutions, which are really self-perpetuating departments serving only themselves and detrimental to common unified society.
It's a fascinating read if only for the reason that no one else seems to have done the research on the subject and for its courage in attacking some of the dominant themes in our society.
It's a fascinating read if only for the reason that no one else seems to have done the research on the subject and for its courage in attacking some of the dominant themes in our society.
April 28, 2023
Mr. Heycke's book is an excellent read. Mr. Heycke's thesis is irrefutable, diversity is good, but fractionalism is very bad. Mr. Heycke supports his conclusions, including the relationship between fractionalism and centralized ecnomic control, with a plethora of historical and statistical data, described in an easy to read narrative. Comparing present day social trends to meticulously researched historical events is not only very compelling, but provides an essential service to the reading public - drawing attention to societal trends from ancient Rome to present day Sri Lanka which are applicable to today. Noticeably, Mr. Heycke not only describes how fractionalism and divisivness have caused the collapse of historical empires like Rome and the Aztecs, but also highlights relatively recent cultural successes such as Botswana and Rawanda. A dose of good news against a backdrop of otherwise troubling current events. Well worth your time.
December 30, 2023
Heycke's meticulous research and narrative style make this book a fascinating read. He skillfully draws upon historical examples to illustrate the different approaches to multiethnicity, from the melting pot to multicultural particularism. By examining the successes and failures of these approaches around the world, Heycke provides valuable insights.
Chapter 10 is the most compelling: the statistical analysis of multiculturalism is nothing short of stunning. Before you say, "Diversity is our strength," you need to read this chapter!
I highly recommend this timely book
Chapter 10 is the most compelling: the statistical analysis of multiculturalism is nothing short of stunning. Before you say, "Diversity is our strength," you need to read this chapter!
I highly recommend this timely book
June 9, 2024
As a historian immersed in the complexities of societal transformations and cultural integration, I found this book to be a brilliant and essential addition to the field of historical analysis and discourse. Heycke’s thorough examination of societies from the Byzantine Empire to modern-day Rwanda provides an enlightening perspective on the challenges that diversity presents to societal cohesion.
The book’s exploration of various historical societies is not only academically rigorous but also remarkably insightful. Heycke’s adept use of historical examples to illustrate the concept of asabiyah, or social cohesion, offers a nuanced understanding of the forces that have shaped human societies over millennia.
"Out of the Melting Pot, Into the Fire" is a testament to Heycke's scholarly dedication; it appears to be based nearly 100% on primary sources (40 pages of footnotes and Heycke's own translations from early Arabic, Ottoman Turkish, and German texts). As an academic, I am particularly impressed by Heycke's ability to synthesize vast amounts of historical data into coherent and compelling arguments. This book is not only a significant scholarly resource but also an engaging read that challenges preconceived notions about the nature of social cohesion.
In addition to the historical analysis, Heycke provides a thorough and illuminating statistical analysis (with a lengthy statistical appendix). His research, which echoes some of Robert Putnam's work, shows the lurking challenges and dangers of multiethnicity. It is not "politically correct," but it is correct--and well worth reading. Heycke's conclusions are drawn from both a deep well of historical knowledge and hard statistical research.
This is a must-read for historians, policymakers, and anyone interested in the profound questions of how societies integrate and maintain unity amidst diversity. "Out of the Melting Pot, Into the Fire" is a scholarly tour de force that contributes significantly to our understanding of multiculturalism and the challenges of multiethnicity.
The book’s exploration of various historical societies is not only academically rigorous but also remarkably insightful. Heycke’s adept use of historical examples to illustrate the concept of asabiyah, or social cohesion, offers a nuanced understanding of the forces that have shaped human societies over millennia.
"Out of the Melting Pot, Into the Fire" is a testament to Heycke's scholarly dedication; it appears to be based nearly 100% on primary sources (40 pages of footnotes and Heycke's own translations from early Arabic, Ottoman Turkish, and German texts). As an academic, I am particularly impressed by Heycke's ability to synthesize vast amounts of historical data into coherent and compelling arguments. This book is not only a significant scholarly resource but also an engaging read that challenges preconceived notions about the nature of social cohesion.
In addition to the historical analysis, Heycke provides a thorough and illuminating statistical analysis (with a lengthy statistical appendix). His research, which echoes some of Robert Putnam's work, shows the lurking challenges and dangers of multiethnicity. It is not "politically correct," but it is correct--and well worth reading. Heycke's conclusions are drawn from both a deep well of historical knowledge and hard statistical research.
This is a must-read for historians, policymakers, and anyone interested in the profound questions of how societies integrate and maintain unity amidst diversity. "Out of the Melting Pot, Into the Fire" is a scholarly tour de force that contributes significantly to our understanding of multiculturalism and the challenges of multiethnicity.
January 17, 2024
This is one of the better history books I have read in recent memory. Not only is it engaging. taking a unique perspective on historical events, it is--As Victor Davis Hanson has noted--stunningly well-researched. Above all, it is a very important book that all Americans need to read.
Heycke provides a thoroughly devastating indictment of "multicultural particularism." Using historical examples, he shows how divisive multicultural ethnic policies have pitted groups against each other; destroyed communal cohesion; sacrificed peace and prosperity, and occasionally caused genocide in societies going all the way back to ancient times.
The in-depth historical narratives in this book are worthwhile in their own right. In fact, Chapter 2, "Lessons from Byzantine Race Riots," is worth the price of admission by itself. But the real contribution is in showing the critical role ethnic policies have played at various times in history.
For example, historians have long acknowledged Rome's "melting pot" system of managing numerous ethnicities. But few have discussed it in much detail, devoting only a paragraph or two. This book gives it the full credit it deserves for making Rome so resilient amidst all its other shortcomings.
The modern examples (Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Yugoslavia, Botswana) are instructive for anyone who thinks that compensatory "affirmative" discrimination is a good way to make up for past discrimination or that "anti-racism" (i.e. more racism) is a good antidote to past racism.
The numeric analysis in the last chapter destroys the saccharine trope that "diversity is our strength." Nope. Diversity is not a strength, it is a severe challenge that societies must surmount with unity, if they are to succeed and not descend into bickering balkanization.
Heycke provides a thoroughly devastating indictment of "multicultural particularism." Using historical examples, he shows how divisive multicultural ethnic policies have pitted groups against each other; destroyed communal cohesion; sacrificed peace and prosperity, and occasionally caused genocide in societies going all the way back to ancient times.
The in-depth historical narratives in this book are worthwhile in their own right. In fact, Chapter 2, "Lessons from Byzantine Race Riots," is worth the price of admission by itself. But the real contribution is in showing the critical role ethnic policies have played at various times in history.
For example, historians have long acknowledged Rome's "melting pot" system of managing numerous ethnicities. But few have discussed it in much detail, devoting only a paragraph or two. This book gives it the full credit it deserves for making Rome so resilient amidst all its other shortcomings.
The modern examples (Rwanda, Sri Lanka, Yugoslavia, Botswana) are instructive for anyone who thinks that compensatory "affirmative" discrimination is a good way to make up for past discrimination or that "anti-racism" (i.e. more racism) is a good antidote to past racism.
The numeric analysis in the last chapter destroys the saccharine trope that "diversity is our strength." Nope. Diversity is not a strength, it is a severe challenge that societies must surmount with unity, if they are to succeed and not descend into bickering balkanization.
June 9, 2024
The overall thesis of "Out of the Melting Pot"—that a multiethnic society (like the U.S.) must foster some sense of cohesion and shared identity to succeed—is both important and highly relevant today. The book nicely supports this thesis with an array of interesting examples.
The research is thorough, with many citations of primary source documents, including the author's own translation of the 7th-century "Constitution of Medina" from Ibn Ishaq.
Overall, this is a brilliant work and a fascinating read. I can't recommend it enough.
The research is thorough, with many citations of primary source documents, including the author's own translation of the 7th-century "Constitution of Medina" from Ibn Ishaq.
Overall, this is a brilliant work and a fascinating read. I can't recommend it enough.
March 12, 2024
The book provides instructive case studies about the dangers of identity politics, going all the way back in history. There are some funny stories, like Cortes and the Spanish building a catapult that backfired on them and NATO forces dropping copies of the Sneetches on Bosnia. And there are some incredibly tragic ones like Rwanda and Sri Lanka.
It is an engaging read and, overall, an excellent book.
It is an engaging read and, overall, an excellent book.
January 27, 2024
This is an excellent work, exhaustively researched. Overall, a very important book.
March 3, 2024
Outstanding book that completely destroys DEI and multiculturalism.
December 27, 2023
This is an interesting and insightful book. It demonstrates the dangers of distinguishing people by ethnicity and the advantages of uniting people of different ethnic and racial origins.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews