This essay explores the role of identity in the political thought of Hannah Arendt, with specific focus on her views concerning the politics of identity. By ‘politics of identity’, I mean those movements which base their political goals and actions on the interests of a particular social group [1]. The intention of this is to explore the principal virtues and dangers of such projects through the prism of Arendt`s political thought. This will be done firstly by unpacking her own experiences as a Jewish refugee fleeing the Nazis, and what this may have taught her about the relationship between identity and politics. Secondly, I will distinguish between different motivating forces that can drive identity movements, before outlining the strengths of Arendt`s own concept of ‘solidarity’. Finally, the relationship that exists between sameness and difference in the politics of identity will be discussed, whereby I will argue that Arendt`s notion of ‘plurality’ succeeds in striking an effective balance between these forces. The ultimate goal of the essay is to outline an ‘Arendtian approach’ to the politics of identity; a modus operandi for identity movements drawn from her thought which capitalizes on the virtues of such politics, whilst also avoiding its core dangers.
Continue reading “Hannah Arendt and ‘The Politics of Identity’”Hannah Arendt and ‘The Politics of Identity’
