Identity Politics and Social Justice

Abstract

Identity politics has become a widely used term, commonly to describe the activities ofsocio-political movements the purpose of which is to achieve social justice. Suchwidespread use has often been at the expense of a more thorough analysis of itsefficacy as a conceptual tool, and of whether the political actions to which it refers areadequate for that purpose. This article, an introduction to a collection of essaysfocused on that question, critically considers various ways that identity politics may be(and has been) characterised and whether those characterisations are sufficient topermit a single clear definition of the concept. It also overviews arguments about theextent to which, and in what respects, putting identity politics to work can succeed inachieving social justice.Revista indexada en SCOPUS (Q1), ERIH Plus, entre otros, publicada por Springer.