How Does one's place in the world impact the development of a political identity? By Omair Rana

Political Identity Development

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How Does one's place in the world impact the development of a political identity? By Omair Rana by Mind Map: How Does one's place in the world impact the development of a political identity? By Omair Rana

1. Context - How does the time and place one lives in, as well as shared social values, affect one's political identity?

1.1. Originally, all people start with no political value, but through influence from others and the places where they live, political values are formed.

1.1.1. John Locke's idea of tabula rasa, stating that everyone is born with a blank slate, and only outside influence and environmental factors can change one's social value.

1.2. People's social values shape one's political identity, since one would prefer political ideals that benefit their own social class.

1.2.1. In order to persuade Brutus to join Caesar's assassination, says that he "will this night/In several hands in at his windows throw, as if they came from several citizens,/Writings, all tending to the great opinion/That Rome holds of his name" (I.II.327-331)

1.2.2. During the Industrial Revolution, people would create unions to fight for their classes working conditions, wages, etc, by going through with strikes and negotiations together with higher, sometimes even governmental officials.

1.3. Rhetoric appeals, especially pathos and ethos can impact one's political identity, being that naturally, people will listen to those with credentials, and a valid argument, even if it goes against one's primary political belief/identity.

1.3.1. The well-known and honorable senator, Brutus justifies his killing of Caesar by stating that "If then that friend/Demand why Brutus rose against Caesar, this is my/Answer: not that I loved Caesar less, but that I loved/Rome more. Had you rather Caesar were living,/And die all slaves, than that Caesar were dead, to live all/Freemen" (III.II.21-26)

1.3.2. The well known and very persuasive French speaker, Robespierre was so persuasive with his thoughts on government and political identity, to the point where the common man were willing to kills tens of thousands of others for the sake of that political identity/belief that Robespierre started.

1.4. Through new ideals and philosophical belief, political identity can be changed to the point where it can even reform completely

1.4.1. John Locke, a very influential philosopher completely changed political identity throughout Europe by bringing up the thought that "The state of nature is also a state of equality. No one has more power or authority than another. Since all human beings have the same advantages and the use of the same skills, they should be equal to each other" (Locke, Two Treatises of Government, 1)

2. Power - How does having more or less "power" affect a person? How does having or not having "power" impact the way a person sees the world and makes choices?

2.1. Too much power gives one a much higher social stance, to the point where they isolate themselves from society, resulting in a loss of perspective and vision of the world.

2.1.1. King John gets so much power to the point where he isolates himself from society, losing all perspective of the hardships his men go through, to the point where the common man invade his palace in demand that he looks at his nation through a proper perspective

2.1.2. When Brutus is contemplating whether or not he must kill Caesar, he realizes that Caesar "lest he may, prevent. And since the quarrel/Will bear no color for the thing he is,/Fashion it thus: that what he is, augmented,/Would run to these and these extremities./And therefore think of him as a serpent's egg,/Which, hatched, would, as his kind, grow/mischievous,/And kill him in the shell" (II.I.29-36)

2.2. With more power, comes more ignorance and isolation from other classes, which changes political identity to be centered around oneself rather than a larger group or nation.

2.2.1. In "Common Sense" by Thomas Paine, Paine almost dehumanizes the English monarchical system, by stating that "There is something exceedingly ridiculous in the composition of monarchy; it first excludes a man from the means of information, yet empowers him to act in cases where the highest judgement is required" (Paine, 1)

2.2.2. Caesar demonstrates how his political identity has been centered around himself when he explains how "If I could pray to move, prayers would move me./But I am constant as the Northern Star,/Of those true and resting quality/There is no fellow in the firmament" (III.I.65-68)

2.3. The more power one has, the more they feel as if they need to preserve it, to the point where they do unacceptable actions in order to protect it.

2.3.1. This is shown through Galileo's Inquisition, in which friend of the Pope and well-known philosopher Galileo Galilei has a scientific breakthrough, however it contradicts what the church said, so in order to protect their immense power, the church exiled Galileo, and justified it by saying he was inquiring information against the church.

3. Conflict - How can political identity be both the cause and the result of political conflict? How does conflict help people to clarify their benefits?

3.1. Political identity is the cause of conflict, since one would take action, or spark a conflict that would better their individual political beliefs.

3.1.1. In order to persuade Brutus to join Caesar's assassination, says that he "will this night/In several hands in at his windows throw, as if they came from several citizens,/Writings, all tending to the great opinion/That Rome holds of his name" (I.II.327-331)

3.1.2. The DOROMAC, by Marquis de Lafayette states that "the representatives of the French people, or contempt of the rights of man are the sole cause of public calamities and of the corruption of goverments" (Lafayette, 1)

3.1.3. Another very strong example of this is in Abbe Sieyes' pamphlet "What is the Third Estate", showing Sieyes' political beliefs of how the members of the third estate (common man) deserve rights such as equality, popular sovereignty and natural rights

3.2. When rhetoric is used to change one's political identity, it can often result in some conflict as an unfortunate aftermath, which potentially can even result in death.

3.2.1. In Mary Shelly's "Frankenstein", the creature persuades Victor to create a female version of the creature, however this method of persuasion leads to Victor making the female creature and destroying it in front of the male creature, which makes the creature furious, and kills Victor's wife in sheer rage.

3.2.1.1. One of the strongest French revolution speakers and advocates, Robespierre persuades the majority of the French common man to kill off so many of those who may be potentially against the revolution, to the extent where thousands of innocent citizens are killed

3.2.1.1.1. Frankenstein is depicted here as the common people, while Robespierre is like Frankenstein's creature.

3.2.2. In Julius Caesar, Cassius uses all rhetorical appeals to persuade Brutus into joining in the assassination of Caesar, only to have the outcome of Caesar dead, and the common people furious at the conspirators once they hear Marc Antony's speech.

3.3. Through conflict, people end up better understanding their individual political identity, and can distinguish themselves into a certain political stance

3.3.1. This is shown when Brutus is contemplating what is best for the Roman people, he decides that "It must be by [Caesar's] death. And for my part/I know no personal cause to spurn at him,/But for the general" (II.I.10-12).

3.3.2. An example of understanding political belief through conflict is also shown in the painting by Paul Revere, "The Bloody Massacre", showcases an overexaggerated depiction of the Boston Massacre, showing innocent men bleeding while being shot at by the British troops.

3.3.2.1. This specific depiction became a deciding factor for many people during the American Revolution, as they realized that their political stance belonged with the common people rather than with the English monarchy.