Identity Politics Persuasive Essay by cee-cee

This paper argues that, although identity politics has long been perceived as supremely important to the continued success of political and social institutions, there are indications that this approach to understanding national identity is incorrect or at least exaggerated. The author examines the role that identity politics plays in the Canadian context and concedes it may no longer be a driving consideration in the success of political and social institutions. The paper concludes that, since Canadian "uniqueness" among Western democracies is largely mythical, the decreasing importance of identity politics in Canada points to a larger shift among Western democracies towards societies in which unity of identity is no longer the crucial factor in the success of the state.