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By Bill Fletcher Jr.
What passes for identity politics should actually be understood as
social justice struggles that aim for consistent democracy and become,
as a result, component parts of the larger class struggle. These are
not battles around one’s identity. This is not self-indulgent activity
by people who, for whatever reason, do not recognize the importance of
economics. This is what has made problematic several of the statements
by Senator Sanders both prior to and following the November 8th election.
Shortly after the Election, in response to a woman who asked about
becoming a Latina Senator, Sanders offered a complex answer. He
acknowledged the need for more women elected officials and more elected
officials of color. But he said that he wanted to make sure that they
were focused on the working class. He ended by suggesting the need to
move away from identity politics.
One can agree with Senator Sanders that it is critical to move beyond
any sorts of politics that is simply about “faces” in high places. And,
when looking at the totality of the Senator’s remarks, there is
important value. But because of the lack of a consensus about the
actual nature of so-called identity politics, Sanders proposal to move
away from it is, at best, confusing. Identity politics, at least the
way that it has been used as a term since the Election, describes a
politics that asserts the need for representation of historically
marginalized and oppressed populations; and the representation of their
issues. In that sense, what we are discussing is social justice and not
something that should even be described as “identity politics.” It is
more a politics of inclusion and for democracy rather than a politics of
distinctiveness or uniqueness.
full: http://www.alternet.org/election-2016/identity-politics-social-justice
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