Blog 5

There is a political identity associated with members of the church. While not all members vote conservative the political identity of the church is overwhelmingly conservative. The state of Utah’s population is about 62% Mormon (Salt Lake Tribune). Utah was also found recently by Gallup to be the second most conservative state in the country, with 50% describing themselves as conservative, and only 14% describing themselves as liberal (Gallup). It is unlikely this high correlation is a coincidence. Statistics aside, all a student at the predominantly Mormon university BYU has to do to realize church member’s political identity is to wear an Obama pin and notice that they suddenly get stared at like they are form a different planet. A political identity among church members is present and its cause is explained by the primordialist approach to political identity.

The primordialist approach to explaining political identity argues that political identity is something you are born with or gain at a young age, is largely unchanging, and is based on shared historical experience, as well as aspects of people’s culture (Samuels, 153). The largely unified political identity of members of the church is explained quite well by many of these characteristics. Members of the church have a shared identity because of their common culture. Members of the church, especially in Utah, where there are less converts, all share a common history and culture. Members of the church are encouraged to learn about their pioneer ancestors that many have in common. They play in basketball leagues together, share the same recipes, listen to the same music, and most importantly adhere to the same standards and beliefs. All of these things are clear examples of kinship bonds that have formed between members of the church. They truly have “deep emotional and psychological attachment individuals feel towards the greater community” (Samuels, 153). All it takes for this collective identity to become politicized is for something to threaten it.

            Primordialists predict that members of these groups will collectively mobilize when they feel threats to their collective identity (Samuel, 154). Part of church member’s collective identity is their belief that marriage should be between a man and a women. In 2008 the California state supreme court invalidated the rule in the state that defined marriage as being between a man and a woman (California Courts). This was a clear threat to the practice of church member’s collective identity and they reacted as expected based on the primordialists approach. Members of the church campaigned aggressively to pass proposition 8 that redefined marriage in a way that no longer threatened their beliefs.

            In contrast to primordialists, constructivists argue that people are mobilized not because of a deeply rooted identity, but because of tangible interests (Samuels, 168). This is a poor explanation for the action of members of the church with regard to proposition 8 in California. The constructionist view would suggest that members of the church mobilized politically because they held some tangible interest in proposition 8 going through. In general this was not the case. The church got a significant amount of bad public relations do to member’s involvement in the issue which is against their tangible interests. A much better explanation for their action was the primordialist view. Their identity became politicized because their way of life was threatened and they rose to defend themselves from that threat.

            There definitely is a political identity within the church. This identity and the politicization of it is well described by the primordialist approach. The church community collectively mobilizes when some aspect of their culture comes under threat which is clearly seen in member’s fierce support of proposition 8 in California.

Works Cited

Samuels, David J. Comparative Politics. Upper Saddle River: Pearson Education, 2012. Print.

Gallup, http://www.gallup.com/poll/152459, viewed 10/11/12

Salt Lake Tribune, http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home3/53909710-200/population-lds-county-utah.html.csp, viewed 10/11/12

California Courts, http://www.courts.ca.gov/2964.htm, viewed 10/11/12