Identity Politics and Social Change

Paper Summary:

The topic discussed in this article is identity politics. Essentially, the writer looks at the question of how identity politics drive new social theories like feminism, critical race theory and post-colonial theory. A number of topics are examined ranging from social organization and gender to oppression.

From the Paper:

"A number of newer social theories have developed that are driven by identity politics. Some of the most important of these social theories are feminism, critical race theory, post-colonial theory, lesbian and gay theory. What all of these social theories share is a new understanding of identity. In African Identities Anthony Appiah states, 'There are, I think, three crucial lessons to be learned from these cases. First, identities are complex and multiple and grow out of a history of changing responses to economic, political and cultural forces, almost always in opposition to other identities'."

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