Identity -Contemporary Identity Politics and the Struggle for Recognition By Francis Fukuyama, Stanford University

 

Francis Fukuyama, political scientist, author and Professor published Identity in 2018 and his very first sentence, in the Preface, is a dead give- away of his focus and concern in this book.

Fukuyama begins by saying “This book would not have been written had Donald J Trump not been elected President in November 2016.”

The author’s obvious concern is with the rise of “populist nationalism” led by charismatic and megalomaniac leaders who use the democratic electoral process to rise to power and then undermine the very institutions that provide checks to power and constitute the core of liberal democracy.

For those who value the liberal democratic paradigm, the emergence of Trump, Putin, Erdogan and their ilk to leadership positions is a political phenomenon that needs understanding and explanation.

The author argues that understanding politics requires an understanding of human behaviour which in turn needs a basic understanding of human nature. Amongst the primary drivers of human nature are reason, desire and the need to be accorded recognition and dignity.

This last need manifests in two forms- the need to be recognized as a human being fundamentally equal to everyone else and, in some cases, to be recognized as superior to others. The latter need is characterized by a compulsive exceptionalism that seeks ‘large effects’ and big bangs. The transition from feudal autocracy and authoritarianism to liberal democracy involves control and regulation of this need to be recognized as superior and the award of equal recognition and dignity to all. The success of this effort, however, is not always sustained and sometimes suffers a rollback as appears to be happening in contemporary USA.

The Industrial Revolution and the emergence of market economies in the West, and elsewhere, led to both major economic change-growth of national incomes and of income and wealth inequality- and social disruption. Traditional social structures crumbled with migration, urbanization and industrialization. Over time this led to a growing alienation and resentment especially among those who were, or thought they were, unfairly left behind. Resentment from growing inequality is, of course magnified by any additional economic shocks that may occur like , for example, the 2008 recession.

The social upheaval consequent on rapid and unequal economic growth and technological change also raises problems relating to personal identity.  If an inclusive national identity integrating the pluralities of most modern societies is not built, identity tends to coalesce around narrower emotionally charged social formations like race and religion.

The need for recognition, a strong undercurrent of resentment and the potential for emergence of narrow sectarian identities together create opportunities for the emergence of populist leaders. Such leaders create and mobilize a constituency by fanning the flames of resentment, defining and demonizing an enemy and providing support and recognition to large -group identity structures. Using the democratic process to come to power they proceed to undermine the very foundations of liberal democracy.

The result is the emergence of ‘illiberal democracy’ characterized by the politics of resentment and narrowly defined identities.

One significant attribute of identity politics is the barriers it erects against free reasoned discourse essential for a democracy. All issues of public significance are viewed thru the prism of identity and the  passions attached thereto. Logic and reason are therefore set aside in favour of the emotional compulsions of identity.

The author emphasizes that national identity can be built from the ground up and underlines the importance of   inclusive national identities for security, development, conflict resolution and good governance and social welfare.

The assertion that inclusive national identities that incorporate ‘a culture of tolerance and mutual sympathy’ can overcome narrow ‘partisan passions’ is heartening. However, the ground realities of hate and intolerance in the USA and elsewhere, cast a dark shadow  on the future of the liberal- democratic paradigm.