Identity politics: Difference between revisions
imported>Howard C. Berkowitz (New page: '''Identity politics''' is a recognized, but emotionally laden term, especially in U.S. politics but present in many Western democracies. "Rather than organizing solely around belief syste...) |
imported>Howard C. Berkowitz No edit summary |
||
| Line 1: | Line 1: | ||
{{subpages}} | |||
'''Identity politics''' is a recognized, but emotionally laden term, especially in U.S. politics but present in many Western democracies. "Rather than organizing solely around belief systems, programmatic manifestoes, or party affiliation, identity political formations typically aim to secure the political freedom of a specific constituency marginalized within its larger context. Members of that constituency assert or reclaim ways of understanding their distinctiveness that challenge dominant oppressive characterizations, with the goal of greater self-determination."<ref name=StanfordPlato>{{citation | '''Identity politics''' is a recognized, but emotionally laden term, especially in U.S. politics but present in many Western democracies. "Rather than organizing solely around belief systems, programmatic manifestoes, or party affiliation, identity political formations typically aim to secure the political freedom of a specific constituency marginalized within its larger context. Members of that constituency assert or reclaim ways of understanding their distinctiveness that challenge dominant oppressive characterizations, with the goal of greater self-determination."<ref name=StanfordPlato>{{citation | ||
| url = http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/identity-politics/ | | url = http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/identity-politics/ | ||
| title = Identity Politics | | title = Identity Politics | ||
| date = 2 November 2007 | | | date = 2 November 2007 | journal = Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy}}</ref> | ||
While identity politics have been used divisively, they also have been described as means of meeting common needs. A number of [[U.S. Congressional Caucuses]] are identity based, including: | While identity politics have been used divisively, they also have been described as means of meeting common needs. A number of [[U.S. Congressional Caucuses]] are identity based, including: | ||
| Line 14: | Line 15: | ||
| url = http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/06/04/thernstrom.identity.politics/index.html | | url = http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/06/04/thernstrom.identity.politics/index.html | ||
| title = Commentary: Identity politics in the age of Obama | | title = Commentary: Identity politics in the age of Obama | ||
| author = [[Abigail Thernstrom]] | date = 4 June 2009 | | author = [[Abigail Thernstrom]] | date = 4 June 2009 | ||
| journal = CNN}}</ref> | | journal = CNN}}</ref> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
{{reflist}} | {{reflist}} | ||
Revision as of 14:55, 14 November 2009
Identity politics is a recognized, but emotionally laden term, especially in U.S. politics but present in many Western democracies. "Rather than organizing solely around belief systems, programmatic manifestoes, or party affiliation, identity political formations typically aim to secure the political freedom of a specific constituency marginalized within its larger context. Members of that constituency assert or reclaim ways of understanding their distinctiveness that challenge dominant oppressive characterizations, with the goal of greater self-determination."[1]
While identity politics have been used divisively, they also have been described as means of meeting common needs. A number of U.S. Congressional Caucuses are identity based, including:
- Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus
- Congressional Black Caucus
- Congressional Hispanic Caucus
Jewish identity is not always associated with Zionism, but Zionist organizations are powerful in American politics.
An American conservative specialist in civil rights and voting, Abigail Thernstrom, commented "Some of us thought the election of Barack Obama as president might signal a fading away of the old identity politics. The assumption that fundamental lines of division in politics are set by race and ethnicity would seem to be a bit passé when 43 percent of white voters cast their ballots for a proudly "post-racial" African-American." Thernstrom, however, pointed to identity politics having a significant role in the selection of Sonia Sotomayor as his first nominee for the Supreme Court of the United States.[2]
References
- ↑ "Identity Politics", Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, 2 November 2007
- ↑ Abigail Thernstrom (4 June 2009), "Commentary: Identity politics in the age of Obama", CNN