IDENTITY POLITICS AND CULTURE WARS

Identity politics: A political approach whereby people of a particular religion, race, social background, class or other identifying factor (usually minorities) follow and support political movements that share this quality with them

Culture wars: Cultural conflicts between social groups and the struggle for dominance of their values, beliefs, and practices.

Examples of culture wars: For example, the clash between gay marriage advocates and conservative religious groups in the United States is a major culture war.

Similarly, the conflict between religion (pro-life) and abortion advocates is another culture war.

Positive impacts of groups harnessing their identity and views:

Identity politics and the privilege lens have many good effects.  They have made students more sensitive and attuned to each other, and attuned to structural discrimination and bias issues.  Students, teachers, and politicians who use the privilege lens are less likely to trade in generalizations and stereotypes of marginalized groups (although they may trade in stereotypes of dominant groups).  Because of these lenses, many do a better job creating atmospheres that are inclusive to individuals of a wide range of identity groups that have been marginalized or excluded from important conversations.  These effects have been important for a broadened perspective in our academic discourse.

Negative Impacts of identity politics:

Identity politics is now affecting our daily language. For example, following Britain and USA’s issues with immigration, the use of the term ‘migrant’ has become politically charged with negative connotations and has turned into a discriminatory and unfair title used against those seeking refuge. These connotations equate migrants with threats and fuel xenophobia, also leading to racism against British or American citizens that identify as the same race as these migrants or look similar to them.

Global culture wars

In America, the war between reversing climate change and maintaining the economy has caused extreme conflict within their society.

https://www.japantimes.co.jp/opinion/2020/01/24/commentary/world-commentary/climate-change-global-culture-war/

Additionally, Russia has a major culture war between same-sex married couples and more ‘traditional’ heterosexual couples. Russia’s tyrannt dictator, Putin, has removed same sex couple of their right to adopt children.

https://www.firstthings.com/article/2014/04/global-culture-wars

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