We present a theory of identity politics that builds on two ideas. First, when policy conflict renders a certain social divide—economic or cultural—salient, a voter identifies with her economic or cultural group. Second, the voter slants her beliefs toward the stereotype of the group she identifies with. We obtain three implications. First, voters’ beliefs are polarized along the distinctive features of salient groups. Second, if the salience of cultural policies increases, cultural conflict rises, redistributive conflict falls, and polarization becomes more correlated across issues. Third, economic shocks hurting conservative voters may trigger a switch to cultural identity, causing these voters to demand less redistribution. We discuss U.S. survey evidence in light of these implications.

中文翻译：

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身份、信仰和政治冲突*

我们提出了一种基于两种思想的身份政治理论。首先，当政策冲突导致某种社会鸿沟——经济或文化——突出时，选民认同她的经济或文化群体。其次，选民将她的信仰偏向于她所认同的群体的刻板印象。我们得到三个含义。首先，选民的信仰随着显着群体的显着特征而两极分化。其次，如果文化政策的显着性增加，文化冲突会上升，再分配冲突会减少，两极分化在问题之间变得更加相关。第三，伤害保守派选民的经济冲击可能会触发文化认同的转变，导致这些选民要求减少再分配。我们根据这些影响讨论美国的调查证据。