Identity and Difference

Identity and Difference Book Description The question is clear: Who are we? But the answers are diverse, and all of them claim to be "correct". We are under siege of identities at every level. National/ethnic identities, religious identities, sexual identities, political-institutional identities, class identities... All of them call us to themselves: Turkishness, Islam, Europe, proletariat, entrepreneurship, individuality, masculinity, femininity, citizenship, humanity, etc. we are being called. Some people don't even call, it's already imposed on us. "Which is the "correct" identity?" "Who are we"? Who are the "real ones", who are the "others"? Identity and Difference is a book that seeks answers to all these questions by investigating the formation process of identities. It starts from the following propositions: Every identity is associated with a series of differences, and some of these differences are bad, abnormal or irrational, in short, the "Other" has always been invited throughout history to adopt the "correct" identity, if not, it has been oppressed, silenced, conquered, and if that does not work, it has been suppressed. Connolly points to the root of this attitude, a truth he borrowed from Nietzsche, namely, existential resentment. Connolly proposes an argumentative and democratic identity politics based on Foucault's analysis of how the social and political expression of this ressentiment occurs. This policy consists of imposing identities on Others, and expressing their differences as bad, abnormal or irrational, or if that is not the case, they are oppressed, silenced, conquered, or if that is not the case, they are destroyed. Connolly sees the root of this attitude as "ressentiment", a concept he borrowed from Nitezsche. It points to the existential resentment that cannot accept the contingency and uncertainty that results from the absence of a superhuman truth at the basis of the human condition. Connolly proposes an argumentative and democratic identity politics based on Foucault's analysis of how the social and political expression of this ressentiment occurs. This politics avoids imposing identity on Others, penalizing difference and characterizing it as abnormal. It is opposed to a command ethic that claims to have transcendent truth. Aware of the uncertainty of himself and the world, open to discussion, and therefore looking at himself with a certain distance and irony; It is based on an ethic that cares for the other and respects the richness of life. While fighting evil, he does not hesitate to question his own understanding of goodness. Carrying these theses to the real political field, Connolly questions the sovereignty of the "nation" identity, which is based on the constant creation of external threats and is formed by people who "have nothing in common except an enemy". According to him, the most fundamental issues of life are now a necessity to expand the borders of the nation-state. For those who are not afraid to think deeply about the relationship between identity/(freedom and ethics/politics.) (From the Promotional Bulletin)