The concept of “identity politics” was first introduced in academic circles in the 1970s, but it has only reached mainstream political discourse in recent decades. Identity politics refers to a person’s political identity being based on a particular aspect of their personality, such as their race, gender, sexuality, ethnicity, religion, or socioeconomic class. While identity politics have played an important role in social movements such as the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, the women’s rights movement of the 1960s and 1970s, and LGBTQ+ rights movements, some raise concerns that identity politics also cause greater political polarization by emphasizing the differences between groups of people. This volume looks at the role identity politics plays in today’s political landscape and past political movements, considering its political and social benefits and challenges.
