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Out of the Melting Pot, Into the Fire: Multiculturalism in the World's Past and America's Future
As the United States absorbs record numbers of immigrants, a critical question looms: can ethnically diverse societies thrive without a shared national identity? Or do policies that emphasize group differences—however well-intentioned—risk fueling the very divisions they aim to address?
"Out of the Melting Pot, Into the Fire" takes a sweeping historical view, examining how societies from ancient Rome to modern Rwanda have navigated ethnic diversity. Through on-the-ground reporting across forty countries and rigorous analysis of historical patterns, Jens Heycke reveals a stark pattern: societies that unite diverse peoples under common bonds tend to prosper, while those that institutionalize ethnic divisions often descend into conflict, economic stagnation, and violence.
This data-driven investigation offers essential insights for America and other multiethnic democracies facing similar crossroads.
"Out of the Melting Pot, Into the Fire" takes a sweeping historical view, examining how societies from ancient Rome to modern Rwanda have navigated ethnic diversity. Through on-the-ground reporting across forty countries and rigorous analysis of historical patterns, Jens Heycke reveals a stark pattern: societies that unite diverse peoples under common bonds tend to prosper, while those that institutionalize ethnic divisions often descend into conflict, economic stagnation, and violence.
This data-driven investigation offers essential insights for America and other multiethnic democracies facing similar crossroads.
288 pages, Hardcover
First published April 11, 2023
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2140 people want to read
About the author
Jens Kurt Heycke
2 books34 followersJENS 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 executive in several successful technology startups, including one that pioneered the mobile Internet. Since retiring from the high-tech industry, he has worked as a writer and independent researcher, conducting field research in more than 40 countries, from the Bahamas to Botswana.
Heycke has investigated global tax evasion schemes firsthand, interviewing top IRS agents, federal prosecutors, and financial insiders.
Heycke has investigated global tax evasion schemes firsthand, interviewing top IRS agents, federal prosecutors, and financial insiders.
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 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.
August 24, 2025
(p97)
In summary, if the Belgian colonialists had taken lessons from sociological experiments in creating group conflict and had determined to pit Rwanda’s groups against each other in a death struggle, they could hardly have done a better job of it. They nailed all the key elements of the recipe: separate individuals into distinct groups; assign labels to them; implement group preferences that favor one group; then reverse the preferences to favor the other. When the colonialists first arrived, Rwandans were completely indistinguishable culturally and virtually indistinguishable physically; they had previously enjoyed a long, relatively peaceful coexistence and they had similar average incomes. But, like the Robbers Cave experiment described in chapter 1, the Rwandan colonial period demonstrated the ease with which ethnic labels and ethnic preference programs can divide such populations, creating starkly divided antagonistic groups and eliciting murderous hatred from them. It would have been impressive if it had not been so evil.
In summary, if the Belgian colonialists had taken lessons from sociological experiments in creating group conflict and had determined to pit Rwanda’s groups against each other in a death struggle, they could hardly have done a better job of it. They nailed all the key elements of the recipe: separate individuals into distinct groups; assign labels to them; implement group preferences that favor one group; then reverse the preferences to favor the other. When the colonialists first arrived, Rwandans were completely indistinguishable culturally and virtually indistinguishable physically; they had previously enjoyed a long, relatively peaceful coexistence and they had similar average incomes. But, like the Robbers Cave experiment described in chapter 1, the Rwandan colonial period demonstrated the ease with which ethnic labels and ethnic preference programs can divide such populations, creating starkly divided antagonistic groups and eliciting murderous hatred from them. It would have been impressive if it had not been so evil.
August 24, 2025
Heycke dismantles the platitudes of multiculturalism with surgical precision, replacing them with a bracing argument for the virtues of melting pot assimilation as the basis for a unified and thriving society. His mastery of historical examples makes for a narrative that is as compelling as it is persuasive. This book is more than a critique--it's a manifesto for reinstituting the sole solution to fostering social cohesion in ethnically diverse societies: the melting pot. A brilliant and essential work that deserves a prominent place in the contemporary intellectual canon.
October 24, 2025
This book was very thought provoking & gave lots of examples of how fractions within countries has effected everything from human rights to economics. It looks at examples from ancient Rome to current Sri Lanka and many places in between.
January 24, 2025
I enjoyed learning about the multi-cultural challenges of societies from Rome to Rawanda and appreciated the author's research and data. However, it soon became apparent that the author's reason for writing the book was not a passion for history or cultures but an agenda to condemn affirmative action and dei. If he would just let his facts and data speak for themselves, he might succeed, but he keeps inserting his opinion with name calling such as refering to any government actions which have failed as big government and affirmative action while praising the government actions which he sees as successful. Rome succeeded for for a thousand years, he says,in spite of having many rulers who were insane. He credits assimilating the many peoples they conquered by providing incentives for them to accept Rome's language and dress and providing infrastucture like roads and water. He never calls this "big government. " Nor is it "Affirmative Action" when Rawanda insists school children be taught to forget their Hutu or tutsi background and instead repeat the mantra "We are all Rawandans" even in the face of death.
This imbalance really comes to a head in the final chapters where he gives only the briefest mention of multiculturalism in the United States, avoiding any of the country's history as if bringing up the past would be too much like Project 1619. He seems to be saying if the government would just stay out of the way we would all magically melt into one happy, successful people. All the prejudices and racism would disappear and we would be "All Americans."
This imbalance really comes to a head in the final chapters where he gives only the briefest mention of multiculturalism in the United States, avoiding any of the country's history as if bringing up the past would be too much like Project 1619. He seems to be saying if the government would just stay out of the way we would all magically melt into one happy, successful people. All the prejudices and racism would disappear and we would be "All Americans."
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.
September 15, 2025
Hello! I won this book in a giveaway (to which I am so grateful) and will be making my way through it in the upcoming months. Here are my initial thoughts:
1) It's so pretty! I know that's very superficial, but the cover is glossy, the book is well formatted, and it fits nicely in my hand, so that's always a plus. Yes, I am superficial in some regards. Sue me.
2) From the skimming I did of the first chapter, it doesn't look terribly inaccessible. Some more academic books require squinting and re-reading in order to be fully understood, as the authors seem to be trying to cram as many obscure words into the text as possible. This is not that book -- which is not to say that it is not well-written. Rather, it is to say that it is BETTER written, as its ideas come across more clearly to the audience.
Therefore, my first impression of this book is five stars. I will be coming back and editing (if editing is needed) as I get further along in my reading journey!
1) It's so pretty! I know that's very superficial, but the cover is glossy, the book is well formatted, and it fits nicely in my hand, so that's always a plus. Yes, I am superficial in some regards. Sue me.
2) From the skimming I did of the first chapter, it doesn't look terribly inaccessible. Some more academic books require squinting and re-reading in order to be fully understood, as the authors seem to be trying to cram as many obscure words into the text as possible. This is not that book -- which is not to say that it is not well-written. Rather, it is to say that it is BETTER written, as its ideas come across more clearly to the audience.
Therefore, my first impression of this book is five stars. I will be coming back and editing (if editing is needed) as I get further along in my reading journey!
February 6, 2025
Heycke takes a sledgehammer to the warm and fuzzy idea that multiculturalism is the key to a harmonious society. Instead, he argues—backed by historical case studies—that societies that emphasize assimilation over cultural pluralism tend to be more stable, prosperous, and cohesive.
Heycke doesn’t just rant; he brings receipts, diving into examples from Africa, Europe, and Asia to show how identity-based fragmentation inexorably leads to conflict. His writing is clear, compelling, and refreshingly willing to challenge modern orthodoxy.
Heycke doesn’t just rant; he brings receipts, diving into examples from Africa, Europe, and Asia to show how identity-based fragmentation inexorably leads to conflict. His writing is clear, compelling, and refreshingly willing to challenge modern orthodoxy.
December 16, 2024
This cogent, well-written, relevant, and timely book provides diverse, real-world examples and important insights into the dynamic factors and histories affecting the contemporary world. The author’s broad experience of many locations and cultures informs the book’s well-organized and important insights. I recommend this book highly!
October 30, 2025
This book looked at how the fractures in societies whether by religion, race or other ways have caused problems for these particular countries both economically and with the safety of the population. While it looked primarily at 3rd world countries, some other places were mentioned. It was interesting.
October 3, 2025
This dude knows his SAT words and uses them. I think I read the word “invidious” at least 8 or 9 times. Honestly I’m still thinking about this one a couple hours later because some of the conclusions make me a little uncomfy. But they’re clearly backed by data. And history repeats, so…
January 16, 2025
The book provides fascinating case studies about the dangers of identity politics, from classical history all the way to the present. 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 a fun read and a really outstanding piece of historical research with copious and detailed footnotes
It is a fun read and a really outstanding piece of historical research with copious and detailed footnotes
February 14, 2025
As a historian, I found this book to be a brilliant bit 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. In particular, By using historical examples to illustrate the concept of asabiyah--or social cohesion--he provides an excellent framework for understanding why multiculturalism is doomed to failure.
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.
The book 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).
This is a must-read for anyone who cares about the timely question of how societies integrate and maintain unity amidst diversity. It is a scholarly tour de force.
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.
The book 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).
This is a must-read for anyone who cares about the timely question of how societies integrate and maintain unity amidst diversity. It is a scholarly tour de force.
January 2, 2025
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.
Overall, this is a brilliant work and a fascinating read. I can't recommend it enough.
December 10, 2024
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. 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!
This a great and timely book.
This a great and timely book.
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 - 17 of 17 reviews