The politics of identity change and conflict: An agenda for research
| DOI | 10.1177/0263395717715857 |
| Author | Jennifer Todd |
| Published date | 01 February 2018 |
| Date | 01 February 2018 |
| Subject Matter | Special Issue Articles |
https://doi.org/10.1177/0263395717715857
Politics
2018, Vol. 38(1) 84 –93
© The Author(s) 2017
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DOI: 10.1177/0263395717715857
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The politics of identity
change and conflict:
An agenda for research
Jennifer Todd
University College Dublin, Ireland
Abstract
The rise of identity politics has magnified the interest in and importance of identity in contemporary
politics. Yet identity politics disguises intense contest and change behind its strong and simple
identity claims. The concept of identity change is key to its analysis, giving analytic leverage into
the identity-coalitions mobilized by elites, and the different reasons they are successful. This article
argues for a new broad research agenda on identity change. The agenda builds on recent works
on ethnic identity and boundary change while broadening the methodology and scope of analysis
beyond changing identity categories to changing identity content and meaning, and emphasizing
the intersecting processes of contestation and consensus, continuity and change. This mainstreams
analysis of identity change in the wider political science analysis of social and political change.
Keywords
boundaries, conflict, identity change, identity politics, research agenda
Received: 21st May 2017; Accepted: 26th May 2017
Introduction
Identity politics and identity conflicts have reemerged into political prominence with
Trump, Brexit, and the new populist right. Whether in populist form, or in more familiar
forms of social movements and national conflicts, the politics of identity disguises intense
contest and change behind its strong and simple identity claims and its overt solidarity.
Identity change is a key to analysis of identity politics, giving analytic leverage into the
identity-coalitions mobilized by elites, and the different reasons they are successful.
This concluding article argues for a new research agenda on identity change, following
from the articles in this Special Issue. The agenda builds on recent works on ethnic identity
and boundary change while broadening the methodology and scope of analysis beyond
changing identity categories to changing identity content and meaning, and emphasizing
the intersecting processes of contestation and consensus, continuity and change. This
Corresponding author:
Jennifer Todd, School of Politics and International Relations, University College Dublin, Dublin 4, Ireland.
Email: Jennifer.todd@ucd.ie
715857POL0010.1177/0263395717715857PoliticsTodd
research-article2017
Special Issue Article
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