Identity politics
Topic: Recent Developments in Indian Politics: Coalitions, Mandal and a New Consensus · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Identity politics means bringing people together around a shared identity such as caste, religion, region, language or ethnicity. It does not rely on a broad ideology or on economic class. In India it became much stronger after the Mandal issue of 1990 and the Ram Janmabhoomi movement. NCERT asks whether its gains will be captured by a few powerful castes and families.
Example
The BSP rose by appealing to Dalit and bahujan identity. OBC-based parties such as the SP, RJD and JD(U) rose in north India after Mandal.
Don't confuse with
- Class politics: this brings people together by economic position, for example workers or farmers. Identity politics brings people together by who they are born as or what they belong to.