Identity Politics

[Yonadav]

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I get exasperated with media covering the issue of identity politics only from the perspective of the right being exasperated with identity politics on the left. It misrepresents the left, since the left is as exasperated with (and arguably betrayed by) identity politics. Identity politics have been used to fracture the left. The left advocated socially liberal positions to unite diverse people. Identity politics drives them apart.

Fukuyama and Lilla are liberal academics.  The article is a deep dive into both of their views and positions (and books..it's a book review) as vocal opponents of identity politics.  What do you think, do they have it about right?  They've written multiple articles and been interviewed, so you could find their broad summaries outside of their books online, if you were so inclined.

I don't think that the article was a deep dive. It's premise is deeply flawed and not of wide enough perspective to be a deep dive.  While it is certainly true that identity politics have always existed in America, it's not true that this can be used as a defense of identity politics. After all, the article gives example after example of identity politics being a bad thing. It gave those examples exclusively for the purpose of proving that identity politics have always existed, while seeming to be oblivious to what a bad image of identity politics this was portraying. Arguably, you can't engage in identity politics without being some sort of supremacist. The article gives examples of white working class men believing that they are disadvantaged. What should we take away from that? That white working class men are bigots? 

Or should we see it as proof positive that members of an identity group will perceive themselves to be disadvantaged no matter what, as long as there are rival identity groups?  If that's true, then identity politics can never lead to equality. When identity politics is the primary political motivator there will always be an identity group that gains advantage over others while perceiving itself to be at a disadvantage.

Liberal perspectives break down identity by seeking common unifying ground. Identity politics emphasizes identity over common ground. So identity politics and liberal politics are actually polar opposites. Liberal politics are on the left, and identity politics are on the right. This is why I cringe when identity politics keeps being discussed in terms of it representing the left. Social liberalism is on the left, but identity politics promotes illiberal values.