Reflections on the Construction of Western Multi-ethnic Countries Through the Lens of Identity Politics

DOI：10.3969/j.issn.1674-9391.2024.07.006

Abstract：

Generally speaking， identity politics uses individual or collective identities—such as race， nationality， religion， gender， and citizenship—to advance political agendas. Marginalized groups often unite in response to perceived injustices， with" the identity of" these oppressed groups constituting the political basis of unity. At its core， identity politics revolves around the notion of difference， which emphasizes" the empowerment of marginalized groups." By and large， this approach prioritizes" differential politics as the basis to overcome oppression，" analyzing the mechanisms of power， and showing that oppression is rooted in many systems and aggravated by many systems. It thinks about social inequality or oppression" through the lens of identity，" in order" to formulate liberation strategies according to the actual" dynamics of power. As a political practice that is completely different from class politics， identity politics seems to have become a mirror of the evolving political landscape" in today’s world.

Accounts suggest that identity politics originated in" a" period of" Western social transformation，" representing a significant departure from previous economic determinism" associated with" class politics." This identity politics shows a distinctive cultural constructive feature： Essentially， it would seem this shift underscores a noticeable movement in Western societies away from a focus on economic disparities to one that prioritizes cultural struggles focusing on identity issues，" with the political agenda" changing" from economic equality to social discrimination." A thorough investigation into the systematic process" of identity politics has revealed its evolutionary and inflammatory characteristics， tracing a trajectory from gestation to practice. Moreover， the emergence" of identity politics" appears to follow a foundational methodology" of boundary shaping， identity strengthening， and action" representation， showing an" evolution track from inducement" to" intensification， and finally to practice.

Research indicates that identity politics" has been playing an important role in the development of Western" multi-ethnic countries. By paying attention to the political aspects of identity formation and" the safeguarding" of minority rights and interests，" identity politics has positively contributed to inclusivity and the legitimacy of multi-ethnic countries，" improving the level of political democratization within these nations in a certain historical period. However， the particularistic underpinnings of identity politics and its overemphasis on difference have also led to negative effects such as political polarization， social division， and violent conflicts in today’s Western political ecology.

The upsurge of identity politics" has been posing a severe challenge to the" construction of Western" multi-ethnic countries，" contributing to societal fragmentation and exposing the political identity dilemmas faced by" these" countries. Identity politics is essentially a strategic shift" in response to class contradictions that" Western societies struggle to address， arguably highlighting the multiple governance crises in the West， including democratic failures， economic vulnerabilities， and cultural conflicts. Essentially， this situation evidently reflects systemic weaknesses inherent in Western social structures." In contrast，" results show that" under the leadership of the Communist Party of China （CPC），" China has implemented a system designed to guarantee the rights of the people of all ethnic groups to be masters of their own affairs in many ways，" significantly improving" their sense of belonging and happiness. This approach"" has" helped to avoid the disadvantages of identity politics and enhanced national cohesion and unity.

Key Words：

identity politics; construction of multi-ethnic countries; political identity; political community