Multi-ethnic societies, in contrast to single ethnic societies, integrate different
ethnic groups irrespective of differences in culture, race, and history under a common social identity larger than one "nation" in the conventional sense. All cities and most towns can be regarded as
multi-ethnic societies, even ones where race hatred and ethnic intolerance is common.
The few nations that today are considered ethnically homogeneous (eg Japan, North Korea, South Korea, Italy, and Somalia) blend the meaning of a society, a nation, a people, and a state. See multi-national state for the specific political and military issues arising from such a state. There is much overlap however between the concerns of running a state, and finding a common identity as a nation.
Multi-ethnic societies have existed in various historical contexts such as ancient China, ancient India, Majapahit, the Roman Empire, the Byzantine Empire, or the Austro-Hungarian Empire. In recent times, the United States of America has been a more or less successful multi-ethnic society; despite past and current racial and ethnic tensions, the various ethnic groups that make up the United States still manage to live and work together mostly peacefully. Multiculturalism in the United States is more respected than before, and racial and ethnic problems are really being settled today.
The ultimate step in multiethnic integration is the U.N., whose goal is to ensure the peaceful coexistence of as many different countries or ethnic groups as possible.[neutrality disputed]
