The concept of identity: movement from the abstract to the concrete

The concept of identity:
movement from the abstract to the concrete


Gaman-Golutvina O.V.,

MGIMO University, Moscow, Russia; HSE University, Moscow, Russia, ogaman@mgimo.ru


elibrary_id: 250180 | ORCID: 0000-0002-2660-481X | RESEARCHER_ID: E-4046-2012

Article received: 2024.02.21 16:42. Accepted: 2024.03.23 16:43


DOI: 10.17976/jpps/2024.03.12
EDN: FKLGZW


For citation:

Gaman-Golutvina O.V. The concept of identity: movement from the abstract to the concrete. – Polis. Political Studies. 2024. No. 3. https://doi.org/10.17976/jpps/2024.03.12. EDN: FKLGZW (In Russ.)


The article was prepared in the framework of a grant provided by the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (Grant Agreement No. 075-15-2022-327 dated 22.04.2022).


Abstract

The subject of the article is an overview of identitarian research results in Russia reflected in the cycle of the 2010-2023 fundamental scientific publications. The main result is the formation of an original Russian scientific school of identity studies and the establishment of this scientific area as an autonomous subdiscipline of political science. Two substantive dimensions of identitarian studies are identified - analytical-conceptual and substantive-political. Within the framework of the first one, the author analyses the key theoretical parameters of identity studies, including the substantive evolution of the identity concept, theoretical and methodological context and semantic explications of identity studies. A number of identity theoretical articulations are considered: identity modus operandi (positive, negative), identity crises, development, complex society, political space and political time, social justice, social solidarity, civilisational and geopolitical identity, memory and culture wars, cancellation culture, cultural security and cultural sovereignty, and others. An overview of prospective identity studies is presented, including the synthesis of micro- and macro-level identity analyses; the development of the middle-level theories as the way to bridge the gap between empirical analysis and “big theory” in understanding the changes taking place in different regions of the world, taking into account the historical past, political culture, emotional structure and worldview; the relationship between macro-political identities and ideologies; the correlation between civic and ethnic identities; and the relationship between identity and ideology. The political significance of identity research reflects the need to reorient the contemporary way of thinking as predominantly consumerist to the responsible development imperatives, which is supported by a positive identity. 

Keywords
identity, identity studies, identity crisis, civilisational identity, political time, political space, development paradigm, responsible development, intangible development resources, complex society, social justice, social solidarity.


References

Bamberg, M., Demuth, C., & Watzlawik, M. (Ed.). (2021) The Cambridge handbook of identity. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781108755146

Elliott, A. (Ed.). (2011). Routledge handbook of identity studies. Abingdon; New York: Routledge.

Keating, M. (1995). Regions and regionalism in the European community. International Journal of Public Administration, 18(10), 1491-1511.

Schwartz, S.J., Luyckx, K., Vignoles, V.L. (Ed.). (2011). Handbook of identity theory and research. New York: Springer.


Fadeeva, L.A. (2015). Identichnist' kak kategoriya politicheskoi nauki: kognitivnyi potentsial i issledovatel'skoe pole [Identity as a category of political science: cognitive potential and research field]. In O.V. Gaman- Golutvina (Ed.), Strukturnye transformatsii i razvitie otechestvennykh shkol politologii [Structural Transformations and Development of Russian Schools of Political Science) (pp. 78-92). Moscow: Aspect Press. (In Russ.)

Fadeeva, L.A., Semenenko, I.S., Morozova, E.V., Martynov, M.Y., Borisova, N.V., Nazukina, M.V., & Plotnikov, D.S. (2023). Identity politics: concepts, meanings, practices [Politika identichnosti: kontsepty, smysly, praktiki]. Perm: Perm State National Research University. (In Russ.)

Gaman-Golutvina, O.V. (2019). Overcoming methodological differences: the debate about knowledge politics in an age of uncertainty. Polis. Political Studies, 5, 19-42. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.17976/jpps/2019.05.03

Gaman-Golutvina, O.V. (2016). Political science facing the challenges of modern politics. To the 60th anniversary of RPSA / SPSA. Polis. Political Studies, 5, 8-28. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.17976/jpps/2016.01.02 (In Russ.)

Popova, O.V. (2013). Issledovaniya identichnosti v otechestvennoi nauke (1990-2013 gg.) [The study of identity in domestic science (1990-2013)]. In Sub”ektnost' v politike: transformatsii sovremennoi publichnosti, identichnost' i politicheskoe deistvie [Subjectivity in Politics: Transformations of Modern Publicity, Identity and Political Action] (pp. 56-61). Krasnodar: Kuban State University. (In Russ.)

Semenenko, I.S. (2019). Horizons of responsible development: from discourse to governance. Polis. Political Studies, 3, 7-26. (In Russ.) https://doi.org/10.17976/jpps/2019.03.02

Semenenko, I.S. (Ed.). (2011). Politicheskaya identichnost' i politika identichnosti [Political identity and identity politics]. In 2 vols. Vol. 1. Moscow: ROSSPEN. (In Russ.)

Semenenko, I.S. (Ed.). (2012). Politicheskaya identichnost' i politika identichnosti [Political identity and identity politics]. In 2 vols. Vol. 2. Moscow: ROSSPEN. (In Russ.)

Semenenko, I.S. (Ed.). (2017). Identichnost': Lichnost', obshchestvo, politika. Entsiklopedicheskoe izdanie [Identity: the individual, society, and politics. An encyclopedia]. Moscow: Ves Mir Publishers. (In Russ.)

Semenenko, I.S. (Ed.). (2023). Identichnost': lichnost, obschestvo, politika. Novye kontury issledovatel'sko- go polya [Identity: personality, society, politics. New contours of the research field]. Moscow: Ves' Mir. (In Russ.)

Semenenko, I.S., Fadeeva, L.A., Lapkin, V.V., Lapkin, P.V., & Panov, P.V. (Ed.). (2010). Identichnost' kak ob'ekt politicheskogo analiza [Identity as a subject of political analysis]. Collection of articles based on the results of the All-Russian scientific-theoretical conference (IMEMO RAS, 21-22 October). Moscow: IMEMO RAS. (In Russ.)

Semenenko, I.S., Lapkin, V.V., & Pantin, V.I. (2010). Identity in the system of coordinates of the world development. Polis. Political Studies, 3, 40-59. (In Russ.) https://www.politstudies.ru/en/article/4278

Tzymbursky, V.L. (2001). Identichnost' geopoliticheskaya [Geopolitical identity] In Novaya filosofskaya entsiklopediya [New Philosophical Encyclopedia], Vol. 3 (pp. 79-81). Moscow: Mysl'. (In Russ.)

  

Content No. 3, 2024

See also:


Semenenko I.S., Lapkin V.V., Pantin V.I.,
Identity in the system of coordinates of the world development. – Polis. Political Studies. 2010. No3

Semenenko I.S.,
Dilemmas of national identity: political risks and social inputs. – Polis. Political Studies. 2009. No6

Lyublinsky V.V.,
Social policy and problems of society’s development. The western experience. – Polis. Political Studies. 2013. No5

Smorgunov L.V.,
Political identity and the concept of the political. – Polis. Political Studies. 2012. No6

Semenenko I.S.,
Horizons of Responsible Development: from Discourse to Governance. – Polis. Political Studies. 2019. No3

 
 

Archive

   2024      2023      2022      2021   
   2020      2019      2018      2017      2016   
   2015      2014      2013      2012      2011   
   2010      2009      2008      2007      2006   
   2005      2004      2003      2002      2001   
   2000      1999      1998      1997      1996   
   1995      1994      1993      1992      1991