What is a politically relevant or salient identity? Why is political relevance important?

Lars-Erik Cederman, Andreas Wimmer, and Brian Min’s Why Do Ethnic Groups Rebel? New Data and Analysis examines how ethnonationalist struggles contribute to the outbreak of civil wars. The trio of Cederman, Wimmer, and Min make three hypotheses on which group characteristics increase the probability of an ethnonationalist conflict. Their studies found that “exclusion and competition along ethnic lines are strongly associated with internal conflict” (113). Their data demonstrates a correlation between the underrepresentation of ethnicities and civil wars.

 However despite this correlation, Cederman, Wimmer, and Min mention that countries with high oppression of an ethnic group are less likely to be the subject of political conflict. This surprised me because my understanding was that the oppression of a minority typically leads to a rebellion. After reflecting on their point, I see why oppression is unfortunately an effective and unethical way of maintaining power. Another point the authors make is that large ethnic groups who are excluded from power are “likely to challenge the regime’s insiders through violent means” (114). This one registered with me in a way that required less reflection. For a group to be large yet excluded, it would require a certain amount of effort and cruelty on behalf of those in power. Nonviolent challenges are likely to fail because the regime is already unreceptive to the issue despite active oppression. 

Oppressed groups are politically relevant identities. Their ethnic identities affect the political structure of their nations and the amount of power wielded by the leading regime. Political relevance is essential because it is a pathway to change. Violence is one approach to resolving ethnonationalist conflicts; however, even the end result of a violent conflict is a political change. Politics are the means of improvement in a modern nation. Identities are politically relevant when they require or are the engine of change. 

The Washington Redskins have been the subject of a politically relevant and ethnic identity conflict. Some members of the Native American community are outspoken in their belief that the term “Redskin” is a racial slur which should not be used as a team name. Others argue that the team’s name is only associated with Washington football and even a pride point for some Native Americans. This is an example of politically relevant identities feuding. It also demonstrates the importance of political relevance to identities. To those who oppose the team name, the name must be changed as part of collective action in the long fight for Native American rights. To those who support the name, they consider the team name a crucial part of its identity and history which is not meant as an insult. Fans also would lose their merchandise’s relevancy. Owners would lose money in sales due to decrease in brand equity. The grapple between pro-Redskins and anti-Redskins activists explains how identities are politically relevant and the motives behind them. 

Last season the Redskins fired their decade long team president, Bruce Allen. The move to fire Allen recognized the team’s failures to win, sell tickets, and generate fan excitement in recent seasons. His firing was unrelated to the name conflict. Fans felt Allen’s decision making was not representative of their interests. They protested through rejecting ticket offers and ignoring the team’s television broadcasts. This example of collective action demonstrates how identities are politically relevant in order to institute change. The united dissatisfaction of Redskins fans awakened the team’s owner to necessary change. 

The Redskins are one example of how politically relevant identities can induce conflict and change. Politics are connected to identities for them to be an instrument of change and representation. When identities are central to the power structure of a nation, they require proper representation in decision making. Otherwise decisions would be inefficient and inconsiderate of all constituents.