Transnational Diffusion of Identity Politics

Abstract

We study a model of multi-dimensional politics in which voting decisions are not only affected by the voters' preferences regarding redistribution but also by their identity. Voters may thus trade material gains from redistribution for immaterial benefits from identity politics. Based on this widely accepted approach, we model a novel channel for the transnational diffusion of identity politics. According to our approach, changes in foreign identity politics can influence domestic voting decisions due to two mechanisms: First, by changing the domestic voters' role models, specified by their identities and, second, by shifting the relative gains from specific identities for domestic voters. Both mechanisms imply a positive effect from foreign on domestic identity politics. Accordingly, identity politics can spread from one country to another, resulting in cascades of mutually reinforcing policies. Our model also reveals that temporary foreign shocks can have permanent consequences for domestic identity politics due to cultural constraints. This may even true for small changes in the relative benefits of identities. Those can cumulate over time until the benefits are large enough to overcome the rigidity of culture. A similar effect can be shown for the impact of formal identity groups, which may be formed even without influence on politics but could help to consolidate power and thus having far-reaching consequences for domestic identity politics.