Politics of Identity

The study of the politics of identity is a cross-cutting research area that draws faculty from a number of other areas of the discipline.  Faculty and students interested in identity examine it as both cause and effect, studying the ways in which race, ethnicity, class, gender, sexual orientation, religion, and other politically relevant factors shape political behavior and attitudes.  We also explore the ways in which identities are constituted, and what this means for politics.

Political Science Faculty: Amit AhujaKathleen Bruhn, Cynthia Kaplan, Narayani Lasala-BlancoPei-te LienHeather Stoll.
Affiliated Faculty and Collaborators: Edwina Barvosa: (Department of Chicana/o Studies) Cedric J. Robinson (Department of Black Studies) 

Graduate Coursework
Graduate students interested in preparing a field paper on identity politics may do so by petition. Pre-approval from the student's faculty advisor and graduate advisor is required for any four courses to be counted as a qualifying field. Suggested courses offered by the department include the following:

PS 237        Social Movements and Collective Action
PS 250        Political Socialization
PS 281        Comparative Ethnic Politics
PS 252        Public Opinion and Participation
PS 263        Race, Ethnicity, and Gender in American Politics

Students are also encouraged to consider relevant graduate-level courses offered by other UCSB departments such as Sociology, History,  Psychology, Women's Studies, Chicano/Chicana Studies, and Black Studies.