Identity Politics in the United States

This book examines the development of identity politics and its ramifications across American political and social culture. The author provides an important foundational narrative and undertakes qualitative content analysis of primary sources in antiracism and conservative Christian activism in demonstrating the broad scope of the reach of identity politics in American political culture. Exploring identity politics as expressed by progressive conservative groups yields important empirical insight into how identity politics has become a predominant political tool that transcends particular partisan social structures. The author argues that identity politics can be quite effective in securing short-term victories, given the passion that such politics can bring. However, since identity politics has a strong propensity to recreate marginalizing structures, it may not be effective in making sustainable changes to support a larger political and social community. A better long-term direction, in the author’s view, is moving from an identity political framework toward a political framework that includes the interests of groups across the social and political spectrum. Identity Politics in the United States is essential for students and instructors in sociology, social theory, political science, American studies, cultural studies as well as some general/popular readership.