Identity, Politics and Public Policy
Article
Questions of identity arise continuously in contemporary public debate. The purpose of this short paper is to understand what this substantive body of new evidence can tell us about some of the most important public policy questions that involve questions of identity.
Why are questions of identity so important? What, if anything, should politicians be doing about them? Should policymakers leave people's identities alone or, given their importance to our shared life as citizens, help shape them in some way? If policymakers should act in this terrain, how should they do so and what challenges do they face?
This paper addresses these questions by surveying new evidence from five years of research under the Economic and Social Research Council's Identities and Social Action programme.
Related items
The transport challenge for low-income households
Many people living on low incomes in the UK are limited in their ability to access the building blocks of a good life because of poor transport provision.Towards universal opportunity for young people
Outlining a vision for young people which could increase social mobility while also reducing inequality and disadvantage, so that every young person has the opportunity to build a decent life.Harry Quilter-Pinner on Channel 4 News discussing one year of Labour and Starmer in power