Effective assimilation requires a clear, confident host culture for newcomers to integrate into. The UK's struggle with assimilation stems from a reluctance to define 'Britishness' and assert its value. This cultural vacuum makes meaningful integration impossible.

In a diverse, multi-ethnic country, national identity cannot be based on ancestry or "bloodline." Instead, it can be rooted in a shared abstract value. Canada's unifying identity is positioned as "freedom"—the common reason people have historically immigrated, providing a non-ethnic foundation for unity.

While socially problematic, residential clustering of minority groups is politically advantageous. Uniformly distributed minorities risk getting 0% of seats even with significant voter share, as they can't form a majority in any single district. Clustering allows them to secure representation by creating districts they can win.

Roy Ratneville, who became a vice chairman at a major asset management firm, notes he wouldn't have qualified for Canada's modern, skills-based immigration system. He entered on a compassionate visa as a teenage refugee and started in a mailroom, proving that potential and drive can't always be measured by points systems.

Immigrant communities are often socially conservative and pro-business, values that align with conservative parties. However, Roy Ratneville argues they frequently vote for liberal parties out of fear, fueled by media portrayals of conservatives as anti-immigrant. This perception overrides their natural policy alignment.

America is not just a nation of immigrants but of emigrants—people who made the bold choice to leave behind collapsing societies. The Irish fled famine, Germans fled revolution, and Chinese, Vietnamese, and Iranians fled communism and turmoil. This history of leaving failing states is a core part of the American identity, not a betrayal of one's homeland.

Immigration's success or failure is determined by values alignment, not ethnicity. The US historically integrated diverse groups because they shared a foundational ethos. Current conflicts arise when immigrant populations hold fundamentally different core values from the host nation, creating societal friction regardless of race.

Guest Roy Ratneville observes that while ethnic enclaves provide comfort, they can prevent immigrants from integrating, learning the language, and developing skills needed for broader success. He contrasts his own forced integration with an Italian colleague who barely spoke English after 30 years in Canada.

Brands targeting diaspora communities can unlock new growth by expanding their mission beyond selling physical goods. By positioning themselves as a source of knowledge on history, culture, and religion, they can create and monetize digital content and other offerings that serve a deeper community need for connection.