The purpose of this paper is to explain why differences make such a difference by drawing on an historical, institutional, and structural account of intergroup relations and to show the relevance in the present of what has in the past shaped the differences that we take for granted as essential, enduring, and consequential. I make five fundamental points about the meaning of diversity and why difference makes a difference. First, I argue that diversity is always associated with hierarchical inequality, most prominently a racial hierarchy. Second, I emphasize the historical embeddedness of diversity through processes of institutionalization. Third, I emphasize that the structure of intergroup relations is also always subject to contentious politics and to social change. Fourth, I argue that understanding the consequences of diversity over time requires a multi-levelled analysis at the structural, cultural, and social psychological levels in their interrelationships and mutual causality. Fifth, I call attention to the epistemological ignorance that overlays inequality and the history of diversity. I conclude with a discussion of theoretical contributions and outline the need for anti-racist responses at multiple levels to break the link between diversity and inequality.

中文翻译：

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为什么差异会产生差异：多样性、不平等和制度化

本文的目的是通过对群体间关系的历史、制度和结构性解释来解释为什么差异会产生如此大的差异，并展示过去塑造我们认为理所当然的差异的因素在当下的相关性。作为必不可少的、持久的和重要的。关于多样性的含义以及差异为何会产生影响，我提出了五个基本观点。首先，我认为多样性总是与等级不平等有关，最突出的是种族等级。其次，我通过制度化过程强调多样性的历史嵌入性。第三，我强调群体间关系的结构也总是受制于有争议的政治和社会变革。第四，我认为，随着时间的推移理解多样性的后果需要在结构、文化和社会心理层面对它们的相互关系和相互因果关系进行多层次的分析。第五，我提请注意覆盖不平等和多样性历史的认识论上的无知。我以对理论贡献的讨论结束，并概述了在多个层面采取反种族主义反应的必要性，以打破多样性与不平等之间的联系。