Identity politics in essence always refers to political tools owned by a group of people such as in the sense of ethnicity , ethnicity , religion, and so on which are carried out to achieve the goal of gaining power.
The implementation of identity politics is reflected in the form of social action that is carried out by someone who shows the identity of the group.
In fact, it is not uncommon for the implementation of the example of identity politics in Indonesia to raise issues that smell of SARA and are often used as a tool to bring down political opponents in elections.
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For example, on behalf of a particular religion, not to elect leaders from different religions. This, of course, includes identity politics which is negative because it can undermine the national integration of the Indonesian nation.
On the other hand, those who are positive in the presence of identity politics are able to boost the power of their group.
Identity Politics
Identity politics is one of the ways in which members of society struggle with the goal of gaining public recognition of elements of their culture or identity.
Where the identity referred to in political sociology can be in the form of identity on the similarity of race, ethnicity, ethnicity, culture, religion, and others.
Examples of Identity Politics
As for examples of identity politics in society, they include:
1. Racial and Ethnocultural
Ethnic, religious and racial identity politics dominated American politics in the 19th century, during the Second Party System (1830s to 1850s), and also the Third Party System (1850s to 1890s).
Racial identity has been a central theme in Southern politics since slavery was abolished.
Similar patterns emerging in the 21st century are commonly referenced in popular culture , and are increasingly being analyzed in media and social commentary as interconnected parts of politics and society.
Both a phenomenon of majority and minority groups, racial identity politics can develop as a reaction to historical legacies of race-based oppression of individuals, as well as issues of group identity in general.
2. Black Women
Identity politics in gender equality for black women concerns identity-based politics that stems from the life experiences of black women’s struggle and oppression.
In 1977, the Combahee River Collective (CRC) Statement stated that black women struggle with oppression, and the creation of identity politics gives them the tools and understanding to deal with the oppression they face.
CRC also suggests that ” the personal is political “. This expression describes the views that black women have towards politics, as they are constructed by life experiences of racial inequality, and oppression based on their identity.
3. Arab Identity Politics
Arab identity politics concerns identity-based politics originating from the racial or ethnocultural awareness of Arabs.
In Middle Eastern regionalism, identity politics has a special meaning in relation to the national and cultural identities of non-Arab countries, such as Turkey, Iran and North African countries.
In their book Being Arab: Arabism and the Politics of Recognition , academics Christopher Wise and Paul James challenge the view that, in the post-Invasion era of Afghanistan and Iraq, politics driven by Arab identity has come to an end.
Disputing a view that has ” attracted many analysts to conclude that the era of Arab identity politics is behind us “, Wise and James examine its development as a viable alternative to Islamic fundamentalism in the Arab world.
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4. Maori Identity Politics
Because of the somewhat competing tribal versus pan-Māori-based concepts, there have been internal and external uses of Māori identity politics in New Zealand. Maori identity politics has been a disruptive force in New Zealand politics and post-colonial conceptions of the nation.
Its development has also been explored as a cause of parallel ethnic identity development in non-Maori populations. Academic Alison Jones notes that a Maori form of identity politics, as opposed to Pakeha (white New Zealanders), has helped provide “a basis for internal collaboration and a politics of strength ” .
5. Fair skin
White identity politics concerns the manifestation of white ethnocultural identity in various national political settings such as the United States or Australia.
In 1998, political scientists Jeffrey Kaplan and Leonard Weinberg predicted that, by the end of the 20th century, the “Euro-American radical right” would develop a trans-national white identity politics, which would give rise to populist narratives of grievance and encourage hostility toward non- white people and multiculturalism.
In the United States, mainstream news has identified Donald Trump’s presidency as a signal of the increasing and widespread use of white identity politics within the Republican Party and the political landscape.
Political journalists such as Michael Scherer and David Smith have been reporting on developments since the mid-2010s.
Ron Brownstein believes that President Trump is using “White Identity Politics” to bolster his base and that this will ultimately limit his ability to reach white non-American voters for the 2020 United States presidential election.
6. Gender
Identity politics in gender is an approach that views politics, both in practice and as an academic discipline, as gendered and that gender is an identity that influences the way people think.
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7. Elections in Indonesia
Identity politics is often based on beliefs and ethnicity. An example is hate speech that is SARA (Ethnicity, Religion, Race and Intergroup) which is used as a tool to tackle political opponents.
Apart from that, in Indonesia, identity politics is also used as one of the campaign strategies carried out by candidates in elections, as well as being a reason for some people to vote.
For example, someone chooses a candidate not based on the political qualities of the candidate (for example by considering the vision and mission), but based on the identity of the candidate, for example because of the similarity of religion or ethnicity.
That was an article that could be put forward to all groups regarding various examples of identity politics cases that have occurred in the world community and in Indonesia.