Representation & Identity Politics

1 Course Unit

Recent U.S. elections have increased attention towards how domestic politics can be shaped by identities based on race, ethnicity, nation, and gender. Yet such issues of identity politics have long been the focus of scholars studying other parts of the world. In this course, we ask and try to answer crucial questions regarding identity politics in the ‘non- Western’ world (which for purposes of this class means any region outside of North America and Western Europe). What are ‘identities’ and how do they form? Why do certain social identities become politically significant while others do not? When do many political parties seek the support of specific identity groups while excluding others? Why does identity politics sometimes erupt into violent conflict? And what are the implications of identity politics for outcomes we care about, from development and infrastructure provisioning, to peace and tolerance? 1 Course Unit