Who are you?Who are you?

Identity and PoliticsIdentity and Politics

What is Identity?What is Identity?

Identity can be defined as “a sense of Identity can be defined as “a sense of separate and unique selfhood”……separate and unique selfhood”……– How people see themselvesHow people see themselves

Determined by a network of social and other Determined by a network of social and other relationships which differentiate people from peoplerelationships which differentiate people from people

Identity is a broad concept based on gender, Identity is a broad concept based on gender, ethnicity, religion, citizenship, etc….ethnicity, religion, citizenship, etc….

Identity in Western SocietiesIdentity in Western Societies

Refers to exercising choice-eg. Lifestyle Refers to exercising choice-eg. Lifestyle choicechoice

Implies differenceImplies difference

What is Identity Politics?What is Identity Politics?

Identity politics calls for full and formal recognition of the Identity politics calls for full and formal recognition of the difference difference – Adapting and even celebrating itAdapting and even celebrating it– Calls for a shift from universalism to Calls for a shift from universalism to

particularismparticularism Recognition of a significant cultural difference Recognition of a significant cultural difference

within the societywithin the society Also called politics of differenceAlso called politics of difference

Identity links the personal to the socialIdentity links the personal to the social Sees the individual as embedded in a particular Sees the individual as embedded in a particular

cultural, social, institutional and ideological context cultural, social, institutional and ideological context ( Heywood 2007: 212).( Heywood 2007: 212).

Origin of Identity Politics?Origin of Identity Politics?

Post colonial theoriesPost colonial theories Emerged from the collapse of the European Emerged from the collapse of the European

empires during the early post-1945 period empires during the early post-1945 period (Heywood 2007: 212).(Heywood 2007: 212).

Core FeatureCore Feature

Challenged to overturn the cultural dimension of imperial Challenged to overturn the cultural dimension of imperial rule by establishing the legitimacy of non-western and rule by establishing the legitimacy of non-western and sometimes anti western political ideas and traditionssometimes anti western political ideas and traditions

Edward Said critiqued Eurocentrism through his notion of Edward Said critiqued Eurocentrism through his notion of “orientalism”….. “ belittled and demeaned” non-western “orientalism”….. “ belittled and demeaned” non-western people and culturepeople and culture

– Eg. “mysterious East, “instructable Chinese” and Eg. “mysterious East, “instructable Chinese” and “Lustful Turks” ( Heywood 2007: 212).“Lustful Turks” ( Heywood 2007: 212).

Rise of Black consciousness movement in 1960s in the Rise of Black consciousness movement in 1960s in the USAUSA

Growing political assertiveness, expressed through Growing political assertiveness, expressed through ethnic nationalism of cultural groups in various parts of ethnic nationalism of cultural groups in various parts of the world determines identity politics (ibid.: 212).the world determines identity politics (ibid.: 212).

Identity Politics in Sri LankaIdentity Politics in Sri Lanka

Sinhalese and Tamil identity politicsSinhalese and Tamil identity politics Historical claims constructed IDP, contested and evolved Historical claims constructed IDP, contested and evolved

into cultural contestation, cultural contestation transformed into cultural contestation, cultural contestation transformed into ethnic conflict into ethnic conflict

Political parties were formed on ethnic linesPolitical parties were formed on ethnic lines– Tamil Rule Party or Freedom Party and Sri Lanka Freedom Party Tamil Rule Party or Freedom Party and Sri Lanka Freedom Party

( SLFP)( SLFP) Ethnic nationalism was introduced into politicsEthnic nationalism was introduced into politics

– Stress on Sinhalese consciousness - Buddhism and languageStress on Sinhalese consciousness - Buddhism and language– Take power from English educated, urban elite and the idea of Take power from English educated, urban elite and the idea of

building Sinhala nation through the villages building Sinhala nation through the villages Ethnic conflict becomes separate nationalism Ethnic conflict becomes separate nationalism Sought to seek separate homeland for Tamils (Eller 2002: Sought to seek separate homeland for Tamils (Eller 2002:

126).126).

Identity Politics in Sri Lanka- Contd.Identity Politics in Sri Lanka- Contd.

Citizenship Act No.18 of 1948- September 21, 1948 Citizenship Act No.18 of 1948- September 21, 1948 established criteria for citizenship that most Indian Tamils established criteria for citizenship that most Indian Tamils could not meetcould not meet– Individual born before October 15 1948 required two generations of Individual born before October 15 1948 required two generations of

Sri Lankan descent Sri Lankan descent The compulsory study of Sinhala language at the The compulsory study of Sinhala language at the

secondary school levelsecondary school level Bandaranaike’s Sinhalese nationalist government built Bandaranaike’s Sinhalese nationalist government built

politics on the basis Sinhala culture politics on the basis Sinhala culture Sinhala made official language through the Official Sinhala made official language through the Official

Language Act, No 33 of 1956Language Act, No 33 of 1956 Sinhalese peasants resettlement in thinly populated land Sinhalese peasants resettlement in thinly populated land

of that Tamils considered their own (Eller 2002: 124-129).of that Tamils considered their own (Eller 2002: 124-129).