POL S 204 Lecture Identity Identity can be used politically religion race ethnic group language region class occupation gender Institutions Institutions that matter the constitution the legal system how do these things become so important or solid these are artificial and arbitrary but made seem natural could make keeping track of race illegal could make all legal decisions based on race the census the educational system what identity is favored political parties what is the role of politicians respond to institutional incentives activate and mobilize people based on differences politicians can credibly promise tangible rewards these rewards encourage individuals to highlight one aspect of their self over others Political Parties the way politicians get organized generate coalitions of like minded people to advance a political agenda cid 127 mobilize people along different possible identity attributes interest groups need political parties politicians to get the policies into effect basis of class basis of ethnicity basis of religion basis of region READINGS about constructing identity contrast of flags in france symbols are important Political Parties Activate Mobalize represent preferences sponsor politicians to influence public policy policy platforms narrative of past and vision for future often associate with ideologies how society operates vs how it should operate cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 does not have to be true economic and or vs social tension ideology fills in the blanks 2004 democrat example Ideology vision blueprint about how things should be system of assumptions and claims about world identify like minded people cid 127 mobilize cid 127 Marx comunist policy platform author perpetual class struggle workers just claim to ownership profits of their labor workers will win the struggle wealth will be equally distributed gov will no longer be needed cid 127 Why do political Parties exist at all credibility screening out free riders or less committed members cid 127 Why is one identity factor stick become more salient that others to organize have a group brand support achieve agenda signal to voters self informing intangible and tangible benefits social values cultural policy role of government in economy foreign policy immigration policy federal government vs states rights size matters cid 127 money talks economy division infrastructure public goods often a numbers game example social class cid 127 Mexico NSA anti american because of the minds cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127 cid 127