When I first noticed people practicing "identity politics" I thought they were somewhat simplistic and naive since nobody is completely defined by just one belief, but I still accepted the explanation that its purpose was primarily about standing in support of an idea or with a group. In the decade or so since I became aware of this shift in the political structure of our society, I have come to believe that identity politics is one of the most dangerous shifts in our social structure that we have encountered in my lifetime.
There are multiple dangers that stem from politically identifying with one specific group, the primary problem being that when one IDENTIFIES with a particular idea or cause, that concept is linked in one's mind to one's very self. This does not mean that the person is simply passionate about the concept or cause, but rather that the position held is part of that person's identity. The problem with this is that the mind has what might be thought of as an immune response that protects the ego. A challenge to one's core identity is not perceived as an intellectual puzzle that needs to be understood and solved, but rather as an existential threat to the person's psychological foundation. This makes it VERY difficult to discuss ideas objectively or rationally.
People who practice identity politics have a tendency toward intellectual laziness in that they characterizing others by "pigeon holing" them. If a person is sorted into a particular group, then most or all of that person's positions on myriad topics are assumed to align exclusively with those of that group. For instance, if one identifies as a "Republican", one is assumed to be pro 2nd amendment rights, anti abortion, socially and fiscally conservative, etc. If one identifies as a "Democrat", one is assumed to be for gun control, pro abortion rights, socially and fiscally liberal, etc. Identity politics discourages free thought about individual issues. People who practice identity politics often don't know what to make of a person who believes in reproductive choice AND the 2nd amendment.
According to Wikipedia: "In academic usage, the term 'identity politics' refers to a wide range of political activities and theoretical analyses rooted in experiences of injustice shared by different, often excluded social groups." Those whose primary identity is as part of a downtrodden group seem to approach every political discussion with a chip on their shoulder, looking to "get even" or "right past wrongs". Discussions that are approached without respect for opposing viewpoints usually feature either a defensive or aggressive attitude, and they rarely succeed in changing the minds of others. Nobody wants to talk with someone who thinks they are a demon or an idiot.
I'm not sure which came first, but I think the shift toward identity politics is linked to the profound decline in civil discourse. Political discussions are not about understanding another person's ideas on a particular issue or learning from them, rather they are usually about "winning the argument" or "beating the enemy". I think we'd have a much more civil society if the emphasis was on sharing perspectives and letting the marketplace of ideas allow the best ideas to percolate to the top. Identity politics' most destructive influence might be that it is a source of friction in the free market of ideas.
I recently came across a tool from a fantastic group called The School of Thought International that I highly recommend - "The Rules of Civil Conversation". Here is their purpose statement:
"The School of Thought International is a non profit organization dedicated to promoting critical thinking, reason, and understanding. Our free resources, published under Creative Commons licenses, have reached over 30 million people in seven languages. We believe that in order to rise to the challenges of the 21st century, we need to teach the next generation how to think, rather than what to think; and that we can do so by using world-class design, code and creative, making it freely available for everyone."
Here are a few more tools they offer (for free) to encourage critical thought and civil discourse: