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Identity and Violence today
“Identity and Violence” is an influential book by the Indian philosopher and Nobel laureate in Economics, Amartya Sen, which was originally published in 2007 under the title “Die Identitätsfalle” in Germany.
For his contributions to the discussion on an economic theory with socio-political demands, he was awarded the Peace Prize of the German Book Trade in 2020.
The Identity Trap
Amartya Sen — a thoroughgoing universalist — coined the term “identity trap” to describe how reducing people to a single identity can lead to fanatic violence. He argues that people have diverse identities, which hold different meanings depending on the context. This diversity is a key to a more peaceful world, as it promotes freedom and tolerance.
The Dangers of One-dimensional Identity Assignments
There is a currently resurgent tendency to categorize people based on identity traits, leading to clumsy reactions in both private and global contexts, with consequences. Identity can be both a source of pride and self-confidence, and a driver of violence and terror, particularly when it is cemented through the exclusion of others.
