IDENTITIY POLITICS

NATALIA BERNACKA

There have been many changes in voters behaviour over time in Western societies. Valentino
and Sears (2007) claim that southern states in the US has shifted from Democrats to the
Republican Party over past decades due to racial conservatism that has become more related to
presidential elections and party alignment in the white South, whereas it has maintained
constant in other regions. Sides, Tesler and Vavreck (2017) argue that racial attitudes have been
in general increasingly linked to white Americans’ partisanship. The presidential candidates,
such as Donald Trump, when appeal to racial threats posed to whites from other racial groups,
activate the hidden political strength of white conservatives. Sides et al (2017) demonstrate that
white identity was an important factor in the 2016 elections and appeared to indicate the support
for Trump’s candidacy. On the other hand, Inglehart and Norris (2016) associate Trump and
other alike leader’s success with the rise of populism. They believe that cultural values in
general, combined with social and demographic factors provide more relatable explanation.

On the national level of American politics, the major shift of electorate has occurred in the
South and concerned mostly the whites since 1960s when parties have become to be largely
divided on racial issues, not only on economic ones. Hence, the parties are divided in the South
explicitly along race. Republicans are supported almost inclusively by the Whites and African-
American constitute the core of the Democratic Party there (Valentino and Sears, 2007).

Valentino and Sears (2007) similarly believe that the main cause of this shift is racial issues'
politics and describe four reasons of this change. Subsequently, the authors particularly
emphasise the role of symbolic racism. Likewise, Sides et al. (2017) agree that views of
African-American predominantly contributed to the shift in Southerner’s political preferences
and their shift toward the Republican party. Increasing differences between two major parties
enhanced party identification. Furthermore, Valentino and Sears (2007) find that whites were
usually more racially conservative in the South then elsewhere. Racial attitudes have
significantly induced partisanship among white Southerners. In general, racial conservatism has
become more strongly entangled with Republican presidential voting and party identification
in the South.

On the other hand, according to Inglehart and Norris (2016) there has been increasing relevance
of post-materialist values in Western societies. This induced new set of issues to be created that
are more salient for today’s citizens. In response to these changes, the populism, calling for the
protection of traditional values, appeared to rise and, therefore, led to several consequences
such as Brexit and Donald Trump’s election.

Taking into considerations Democratic and Republican proposed politics, Democrats seem to
be more prone to focus on inequalities and work on politics that might lead to equal
opportunities, whereas Republican do not include it into their agenda. Therefore, it might
indicate that citizens vote for Democrats largely because of racial issues, but Republican’s
voters simply believe that the economy is more relevant. Hence, conservatives might be more
likely to emphasise the significance of economic performance and undermine racial problems.
Consequently, whites, as a traditionally privileged group of society who does not experience
maltreatment, focus on issues that contribute to the welfare of country in general. On the
contrary liberal politics, highliting racial issues, encourage the minorities – Afro-Americans,
Hispanic and Latino Americans and other - that might feel excluded, to support them. This can
be also related to Donald Trump’s success who wanted to “make America great again” catching
voters’ attention by underlining the importance of American companies and their economic
outcome.

Furthermore, southern American citizens might as well be strongly attached to basic

conservative politics concerning other social issues, such as abortion, gay rights, environmental
policies rather than race. In my opinion race is only one among many other factors that influence
shift in American division of electorate according to regions. Similar changes are possible to
notice in Europe as well. I find populism a more relevant determinant of today’s voters’
preferences. It is movement of populists that leads to the further division on racial issues.

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

Inglegahrt, R., Norris P., (2016). Trump, Brexit and the rise of Populism: Economic have-nots
and cultural backlash. Paper presented at the American Political Science Association Annual
Meeting, 1-4 September, Philadelphia.

Valentino, N., Sears, D. (2005). Old Times Are Not Forgotten. American Journal of Political
Science. Vol. 49 (3): 672-688.

Sides, J, Tesler, M, Vavreck, L. (2017). Trump and the Rise of White Identity Politics. Paper
presented at The 2016 U.S. Presidential Election: Tumult at Home, Retreat Abroad? conference
at the Mershon Center, Ohio State University, November 2017.