Social Theory & the Politics of Identity
Social theory refers to a set of theoretical frameworks for analyzing and explaining social interactions. Although largely associated with sociology, social theory takes an interdisciplinary approach, drawing from other disciplines, including anthropology, economics, politics and philosophy. Social theory often examines political activity in the context of the politics of identity, or political activity among groups united along racial, ethnic, cultural, or religious lines.
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Identification
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Identity politics applies social theory to the study of political activities and movements that are intended to advance the interests of groups who unite around a shared sense of identity. These groups may unite along cultural, religious, ethnic, ideological, gender or sexual orientation lines.
Considerations
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Although identity politics is not limited to political activities among historically marginalized or oppressed groups, the subject often focuses on them. Often, a group's leaders will present their group as marginalized or oppressed in order to lend greater legitimacy to their political goals or claims. Social theorists sometimes refer to this as the group's narrative, or its presentation of itself.
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Expert Insight
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In his 1991 book, "The Disuniting of America," historian Arthur Schlessinger suggested that identity politics became more prominent in world political affairs in the era following the Cold War. The collapse of the Soviet Union released old ethnic, religious and cultural conflicts previously restrained by Communist authorities. Examples include the fragmentation of the former Yugoslavia and ensuing civil war, which pitted Bosnian Muslims, Catholic Croats and Eastern Orthodox Serbs in a three-way conflict that engulfed much of the Balkans.
Geography
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Other examples of identity politics that social theorists have studied include political conflict between English- and French-speaking populations in Canada, and the movement for Aborigine rights in Australia. These and other issues regarding the politics of identity often center on civil rights, and cultural preservation.
Civil unrest and political conflict rooted in identity were unintended consequences of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003. The ouster of Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein released conflict among Sunni and Shia Muslims, and ethnic Kurds that had been kept in check by the Hussein regime.
History
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The women's suffrage movement of the early 1900s was an early example of identity politics in the United States. Later examples include the African-American civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, the feminist movement, the American Indian movement, and gay rights activism. All of these cases involved political activity and social activism by groups that faced political, social and/or economic discrimination.
Theories/Speculation
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Contemporary political conflicts that appear to pit rival parties or political ideologies (Democratic vs. Republican, liberal vs. conservative) involve identity issues at their core. Many activists in the modern conservative movement, especially religious conservatives, consider themselves mainstream defenders of traditional, Judeo-Christian values against what they see as a liberal-dominated culture that marginalizes them and belittles their beliefs.
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