THE CONCEPT OF IDENTITY FOR COMPLEX POLITICAL ACTORS AND ITS RELEVANCE FOR CONFLICT STUDIES

Authors

  • Ксения Чепикова Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena, Fürstengraben 1, 07743, Jena, Deutschland;

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.21638/11701/spbu17.2017.412

Abstract

This essay discusses different conceptions of identity and its relevance for conflict studies, in the analysis of complex political actors such as political organizations for example. The author presents two main theoretical traditions in the identity research, some important theories of identity existing in sociology and social psychology, as well as some derived theories concerning several relevant aspects. The essay examines the construction, function and sources of social and political identity from the viewpoint of sociology and social psychology, particularly in the aspect of arising and resolution of identity conflicts. The conflict studies research traditionally approaches the conflict already arisen; this essay however focuses on the mechanism and sources of the conflict as such, both at the micro- and macro levels. It concerns also conflicts caused by radical socio-political transformations and discusses some ways of their resolution in terms of identity change concept. It emphasizes further the symbolic nature of each social and political identity. The author proposes a concept of identity for complex political actors based on theoretical principles of sociology, social psychology, organizational theory, political culture studies and semiotics. Each identity is viewed as a control system with several components that lead to social and particularly political behaviour of complex political actors including behaviour in a conflict. Refs 23.

Keywords:

political identity, concept of identity, political actors, political organization, conflict

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.
 

References

Литература / References

Jenkins R. Social Identity. London Routledge 2008. 256 p.

McCall G. Simmons J. L. Identities and Interactions. New York Free Press 1966. 278 p.

Stryker S. Identity Salience and Role Performance. Journal of Marriage and the Family1968 vol. 4 pp. 558–564.

Simon B. Identity in Modern Society. A social psychological perspective. Oxford Blackwell 2004. 222 p.

Stets J. Burke P. Identity Theory and Social Identity Theory. Social Psychology Quarterly2000 vol. 63 no. 3 pp. 224–237.

Hogg M. Terry D. White K. A Tale of Two Theories. A Critical Comparison of Identity Theory with Social Identity Theory. Social Psychology Quarterly1995 vol. 58 no. 4 pp. 255–269.

Stryker S. Burke P. The Past Present and Future of an Identity Theory. Social Psychology Quarterly2000 vol. 63 no. 4 pp. 284–297.

Stets J. Examining Emotions in Identity Theory. Social Psychology Quarterly2005 vol. 68 no. 1 pp. 39–56.

Tajfel H. Human groups and social categories. Studies in social psychology. Cambridge Cambridge University Press 1981. 369 p.

Reicher S. The Context of Social Identity. Domination Resistance and Change. Political Psychology2004 vol. 25 no. 6 Symposium: Social Dominance and Intergroup Relations pp. 921–945.

Brewer M. The Many Faces of Social Identity. Implications for Political Psychology. Political Psychology2001 vol. 22 no. 1 pp. 115–125.

Hogg M. Self-conceptual uncertainty and the lure of belonging. Eds R. Brown D. Capozza Social Identities. Motivational emotional and cultural influences. Hove East Sussex New York Psychology Press2006 pp. 33–50.

Brown R. Capozza D. (eds.). Social Identities. Motivational motivational emotional and cultural influences Hove East Sussex New York Psychology Press2006 292 p.

Hogg M. Terry D. Social Identity and Self-Categorization Processes in Organizational Contexts. The Academy of Management Review2000 vol. 25 no. 1 pp. 121–140.

Hogg M. Intragroup Processes Group Structure and Social Identity. Ed. by W. P. Robinson. Social Groups and Identities. Developing the legacy of Henri Tajfel. Oxford1996 pp. 65–94.

Huddy L. Context and Meaning in Social Identity Theory: A Response to Oakes. Political Psychology2002 vol. 23 no. 4 pp. 825–838.

Burke P. Extending Identity Control Theory: Insights from Classifier Systems. Sociological Theory2004 vol. 22 no. 4 pp. 574–594.

Burke P. Identity Change. Social Psychology Quarterly2006 vol. 69 no. 1 pp. 81–96.

Burke P. Identity Control Theory. G. Ritzer. Blackwell Encyclopedia of Sociology Oxford2007 pp. 2202–2207.

Stets J. Burke P. New Directions in Identity Control Theory. Advances in Group Process2005 no. 22 pp. 43–64.

Todd J. Social Transformation Collective Categories and Identity Change. Theory and Society2005 vol. 34 no. 4 pp. 429–463.

Gioia D. Schultz M. Corley K. Organizational Identity Image and Adaptive Instability. The Academy of Management Review2000 vol. 25 no. 1 pp. 63–81.

Chepikova K. Parteien im Politischen Leben des modernen Russlands. Identitätsgeschichte und Identitätskonstruktionen. Bd. 1. Politische und Parteienidentitätsbildung. Bd. 2. Identitätskonstruktionen im russischen Parteiensystem. München AVM 2015. 780 p.

Published

2018-10-03

How to Cite

Чепикова, К. (2018). THE CONCEPT OF IDENTITY FOR COMPLEX POLITICAL ACTORS AND ITS RELEVANCE FOR CONFLICT STUDIES. Vestnik of Saint Petersburg University. Philosophy and Conflict Studies, 33(4), 541–551. https://doi.org/10.21638/11701/spbu17.2017.412