Link back to commentThanks Adam. In broad terms, I think we should get back to focusing on our basic humanity, the things we hold in common, rather than the identity politics approach of stressing what makes us different, which risks balkanizing our societies.
At the end of the article where I claim identity politics is inherently racist (https://blackheathphilosophy.org/entry/home/showArticle/622853) I refer to a study by the American political scientist Karen Stenner that provides clear evidence this is the most effective way to combat the emergence of bigotry and intolerance. Here is what she says:
'All the available evidence indicates that exposure to difference, talking about difference, and applauding difference are the surest ways to aggravate those who are innately intolerant, and to guarantee the increased expression of their predispositions in manifestly intolerant attitudes and behaviours. Paradoxically, then, it would seem that we can best limit intolerance of difference by parading, talking about, and applauding our sameness….
Ultimately, nothing inspires greater tolerance from the intolerant than an abundance of common and unifying beliefs, practices, rituals, institutions, and processes. And regrettably, nothing is more certain to provoke increased expression of their latent predispositions than the likes of ‘multicultural education’, bilingual policies, and non-assimilation.'
I think that speaks for itself.