New Frontiers in Identity Politics

Session Submission Type: Full Paper Panel

Session Description

Ethnic and religious politics has long been a focus of research on Southeast Asia; this panel builds upon our knowledge of ethnic politics in the region with creative research designs and timely topics exploring new frontiers in Southeast Asian identity politics. Two of the pieces focus on the intersectional nature of gender and ethno-religious identity. In the first article, that intersectionality is explored in the way that ethnic identity can condition our attitude toward women in politics, while the second explores the way that women's policy attitudes vary based on the gendered and religious framing of policy issues. In contrast, the remaining articles explore the ways that societal power hierarchies shape behavior and affect how to promote tolerance toward outgroups. The third article explores the behavior of minority and majority groups responses to ethnic rhetoric around the time of elections, while the fourth examines whether majority group members can overcome a victimhood mentality and adopt empathetic views toward the minority through self-image improvement. These four papers span two Southeast Asian countries and vary in their theoretical focus; however, they are tied together in the way they highlight new and creative approaches to identity politics in Southeast Asia.

Sub Unit

• Related Groups / Southeast Asian Politics

Individual Presentations

• Effects of Gender and Ethnicity on Corruption Perceptions - Keith Padraic Chew, Arizona State University

• Policy Framing and the Intersection of Gender and Religion - Rachel Fisher, UC Berkeley; Jessica Robinson Preece, Brigham Young University

• Ethnic Rhetoric and Minority Political Behavior - David Alexander Romney, Brigham Young University

• Styles of Nationalism and Ethnic Rhetoric in Minority Regions in Thailand - Joel Sawat Selway, Brigham Young University

Chair

• Joel Sawat Selway Brigham Young University

Discussants

• Risa Toha Wake Forest University

• Nicholas Kuipers Princeton University