Afrikaans

Speech by Former President FW de Klerk to MEDEF on 30 August 2012

FW de Klerk

FW de Klerk Foundation

SPEECH BY FORMER PRESIDENT FW DE KLERK TO MEDEF ON 30 AUGUST 2012

"TO INTEGRATE BY WELCOMING DIFFERENCE AND APPRECIATING DIVERSITY"

Much of human history has been driven by the movement of people.  

The first successful migrations from Africa between 60 000 and 70 000 years ago led to the population of most of the planet; to the extinction of our main competitor, the Neanderthals, and, in effect, to the beginning of history. Just consider the impact of migrations on mankind’s history:

  • The movement of tribes from central Asia against the ramparts of the Roman Empire;
  • migrations of the Huns and Mongols across the Eurasian landmass; and
  • the huge migrations from Europe from the beginning of the 16th Century which dramatically changed the history and demography of much of the planet.

Now, once again, in our globalised world, people are on the move.  

All this means that populations everywhere are becoming more and more heterogeneous. The days of the single ethnic group nation state are gone. One of the central challenges in the emerging multicultural world will be the accommodation of diversity.  

To read full text, click here...

Comments

Published in: FW de Klerk Foundation