ABSTRACT
Cultural diversity, that is, racial, ethnic, gender, and other pluralistic relations, has received increased attention in higher education over the past ten years. At the same time, there is increased discussion and evidence of racial and ethnic conflict in the world. This has led to renewed recognition that racial, ethnic, gender, and other minority group divisions still create serious problems for countries such as the United States (US). Many Americans have been sensitised to conflicts in other countries, for example, South Africa, Rwanda, former USSR and Yugoslavia, and Northern Ireland. It is more and more apparent that unresolved differences have the potential of tearing apart even a modern industrialised nation. As a result, greater attention is being given to cultural diversity and multiculturalism in order to avoid and diffuse volatile situations.
