Dignity and the Psychology of Nationalism: A Review of Francis Fukuyama's Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment

Francis Fukuyama's book, Identity: The Demand for Dignity and the Politics of Resentment, unpacks the escalating complications of identity politics and its implications both as a negative and positive tool on the domestic and international stages. In the context of national identity, Fukuyama insists that insecurities surrounding individual and group identity play an inherent role. Fukuyama's book points out an increasingly crucial moment with respect to the development of a group identity, best summed up by Barbara Kruger in "Reimagining of the American Flag": look for the moment where pride becomes contempt. Throughout this book, Fukuyama asserts that the modern liberal democratic order depends on the reconstruction of national identities across the globe in order to account for the current day diversity of democracies and assimilate new members. This type of national identity, according to Fukuyama, must be creedal, instead of based off ascriptive traits such as race or ethnicity. Though this assessment is a unique addition to the field of study, the book could make itself more useful if it gave a fuller policy prescription or a portfolio of practical solutions.

What is unique about Fukuyama's book is the amount of time he spends grounded in the philosophy and psychology of the issue, eventually proving the inherently political nature of identity. He begins by establishing that the inner self is based on dignity, and that dignity seeks and desires recognition. Self-esteem comes from outside recognition, and as such, identity is inseparable from identity politics because in order for one to feel as though his or her identity is dignified and valid, others have to value and acknowledge it. Fukuyama cites philosopher Hegel, arguing that the struggle for recognition drives all of human history. In order to accurately unpack historical events and phenomena such as revolutions, nationalism, and Islamism, we need a better theory on the human soul. Here, Fukuyama looks to Plato's Republic and engages the concept of the "third part of the soul" to explain identity politics and allegedly irrational or unpredicted behavior. Isothymia, the desire for one's identity to be recognized by those around oneself as equal to everyone else, drives democracy. Megalothymia, however, is the need for one's identity to be recognized as better or more deserving than others. Modern democracy reflects the replacement of megalothymia with isothymia. During massive changes in history in which social caste and social structure became less pressing definitions of one's idea, people had to answer the question of their own identity outside social structure, and this ignited the need for recognition and dignity, leading to democracy and the overthrow of aristocracy.

The Varied Effects of Identity Politics

Fukuyama defines identity politics as a neutral tool whose effect depends on the interpretation and application. He asserts that specifically after economic modernization or in response to injustice, identity politics have shaped the dynamics of world politics, including causing revolutions, the rise of democracy, the civil rights era, and social justice movements. In these ways, identity politics can be an extremely positive force within international politics. Recently, however, Fukuyama identifies the rise of populist and nationalist forces across liberal democracies and asserts that global politics in the second decade of the 21st century is defined by nationalist or religious parties and politicians, listing Putin, Erdogan, Orban, Kaczynski, Trump, Duterte; populist parties and nationalist parties in England, France, the Netherlands; and the prime ministers of India, Japan, and China. Fukuyama largely attributes the recent rise of identity politics to poverty and global inequality and argues that populist and nationalist parties come to power owing to the prevalence of identity politics. Therefore, if liberal democracies do not begin to deal with identity politics, they will not be able to destabilize nationalist or populist forces, which are a serious threat to the democracy itself.

In identifying the problematic applications of identity politics, Fukuyama...