Multiculturalism: America’s most peaceful and least peaceful states

Of the top ten most peaceful states, five of them are also among the top ten whitest states. Six of those top ten peaceful states are among the 15 whitest, seven are among the top 20, and eight are among the top 25. The two exceptions are Washington (27th whitest), and Hawaii (50th). Given that Hawaii is extremely small and is a major vacation destination for white folks, this shouldn’t be a surprise.

Of the top ten most peaceful states, five of them have a white population of at least 85 percent (88.7 percent, to be exact). Seven of the top ten have a white population of at least 80 percent, which means seven of the top ten most peaceful states have an overwhelming supermajority of whites. The three exceptions are Rhode Island (76.4 percent), Washington (72.5 percent), and of course, Hawaii (22.7 percent).

Of the top ten least peaceful states, five of them are also among the top ten least whitest states. Six of those top ten least peaceful states are among the 15 least whitest, seven are among the 20 least, and eight are among the 25 least. The two exceptions are Tennessee (25th highest percentage of whites, and therefore just outside the lower percentile), and Missouri (17th highest).

Of the top ten least peaceful states, five of them have a white population below 60 percent, and seven of them have a white population below 65 percent. The three remaining holdouts are Tennessee at 75.6 percent, Arkansas at 74.5 percent, and Missouri at 81 percent. That means only one state is overwhelmingly white and also relatively unpeaceful.

There are 18 states which have a white population of at least 80 percent. As was mentioned before, seven of those 18 states are among the top ten most peaceful. Furthermore, nine of those 18 states are among the top 15 most peaceful, 14 of 18 are among the top 20, and 17 of 18 are among the top 25. Once again, Missouri is the holdout. Almost every single overwhelmingly white state scores in the upper percentile of peacefulness.

There are nine states which have a white population of at least 85 percent. Five of those nine states are among the top ten most peaceful. Six of nine are in the top 15, eight of nine are in the top 20, and all nine are in the top 25. Kentucky is the holdout among the top 20. It is the 21st most peaceful state and sports a white population of 86.3 percent.

There are 12 states which have a white population below 60 percent. As was mentioned before, five of those 12 states are among the top ten least peaceful states. Furthermore, seven of those 12 states are among the 15 least peaceful, ten of 12 are among the 20 least, and 11 of 12 are among the 25 least. Once again, Hawaii is the holdout. Almost every single state where the white population is well below a supermajority scores in the lower percentile of peacefulness.

There are four states where the white population is below 50 percent. Those states are Hawaii, California (40.1 percent), New Mexico (40.5 percent), and Texas (45.3 percent). Only Texas is among the top ten least peaceful states, but New Mexico and California join Texas among the 20 least peaceful.

There are four states where the white population is over 90 percent. Those states are Maine (94.4 percent), Vermont (94.3 percent), West Virginia (93.2 percent), and New Hampshire (92.3 percent). Stunningly, Maine is the most peaceful state, Vermont is second most peaceful, and New Hampshire is third most peaceful. West Virginia is the holdout here, but it is still the 15th most peaceful despite having a relatively poor economy and a stereotypical “hillbilly” reputation.

Social capital measures have been correlated with for the first time in the 2012 USPI. Robert Putnam’s Comprehensive Social Capital Index is very strongly correlated to the USPI. The dataset is slightly older than the other secondary datasets, however the correlation is still strong when the Social Capital Index is correlated against previous versions of the USPI, which suggests that there is an enduring relationship between social capital and peacefulness.

After 30,000 interviews, Putnam concludes and reports, against his own progressive convictions, that ethnic and racial diversity can be devastating to communities and destructive of community values.

European countries have done a better job of protecting workers’ salaries and rights but have been reluctant to extend the benefits of their generous welfare state to new immigrants who look and act differently from them. Could America’s lost enthusiasm for income redistribution and progressive taxation be in part a reaction to sharing resources with traditionally excluded groups?

“I do think there is a trade-off between inclusion and equality,” said Gary Becker, a professor of economics at the University of Chicago and a Nobel laureate. “I think if you are a German worker you are better off than your American equivalent, but if you are an immigrant, you are better off in the U.S.”