Cultural Narratives and Moral Circles: Mapping the Politics of Identity in Contemporary America

Krystal-Gayle ONeill; Dr. E Busolo Milimu; Mario S. Portugal Ramírez

doi:10.29333/ejecs/2181

Authors

Krystal-Gayle ONeill UMass Boston https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8673-6443
Dr. E Busolo Milimu https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0613-3897
Mario S. Portugal Ramírez https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8327-6269

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.29333/ejecs/2181

Keywords:

Identity politics, Cultural divides, Polarization, Narrative analysis, Partisan Identity in U.S. Politics

Abstract

The paper delves into the socio-cultural political divide in the United States (U.S.), highlighted by the contradictions between the Democratic and Republican parties, particularly following the elections of President Donald J. Trump. By examining the conflict through the lens of values, symbols, and identity, the paper underscores the shifts in foreign policy stances, party alignment along identity lines, contentious political debates, media influence, symbolism in sports, and anti-immigrant sentiments. The foreign policy landscape, once characterized by bipartisan consensus, has been disrupted post-2016, highlighting unresolved historical and cultural issues within the U.S. The socio-cultural conflict is further explored through Hofstede’s cultural theories and Ross’s narrative analysis, elucidating how identity politics and cultural narratives perpetuate the divide. The media and sports are examined as arenas where ideological conflict is prominently displayed, with media coverage often polarized along party lines and sports becoming a battleground for symbolic nationalistic debates. Language and Latino experiences are discussed to illustrate the role of cultural traditions and discrimination in the broader socio-political context. Solutions are proposed, emphasizing the need for political analysis that respects individual narratives, cultural analysis to bridge divides, and fostering multilingualism to reduce political conflict. The paper concludes with a call for a paradigm shift in U.S. politics, advocating for collaboration between parties to address the deep-rooted cultural divides and promote a more inclusive and harmonious society.

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Author Biographies

Krystal-Gayle ONeill, UMass Boston

Dr. Krystal-Gayle O’Neill holds a Ph.D. from UMass Boston, United States, in Global Governance and Human Security, and is an adjunct lecturer at Babson College, where she teaches Global Gender Politics. She is committed to advancing LGBTQIA+ rights, gender equality, and social justice, particularly in the Caribbean. She received the Roni Lipton Student Mentor Award, the John W. McCormack Public Service Award, and Wesleyan University’s Edgar Beckham Award for Social Justice. With a master’s in conflict resolution and over two decades of experience, she teaches interdisciplinary courses in conflict resolution, human security, gender, and social justice.

Dr. E Busolo Milimu

Dr. E Busolo Milimu is a lecturer in Women’s, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and a researcher at the Center for Sustainability and Governance at UMass Boston, United States. She holds a Ph.D. in Global Governance and Human Security, and researches the political economy, sport, and Africa. Her work explores equity, access, and decolonization through the lenses of class, gender, and race. She is also the co-founder of Simama Africa, a youth soccer initiative in Nairobi that engenders community development while tackling structural inequalities in Kenya. She currently teaches Introduction to Human Rights, Advanced Topics in Human Rights, and Feminist Research Seminar.

Mario S. Portugal Ramírez

Mario S. Portugal Ramírez is a Bolivian sociologist whose research explores the intersections of critical global health and digital medicine. His current work examines racist and hate speech discourses circulating on social media, and their implications for democracy and human rights in Latin America, through an interdisciplinary and critical perspective.

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