| From the word alter - to make a thing
different. A term central to postmodern discussions of identity in which the self is given
meaning in terms of an ‘other’. This other is posed or imagined in terms of
difference. Alterity then is a state of, or condition of, otherness. The term is useful
for thinking about how many peoples throughout history have been cast in the role of
inferior and as the opposite of those who look down upon them. Negative qualities are
projected onto these ‘others’ and the imagined contrast with them strengthens
the sense of one's own rightness and confirms one's sense of identity. Identity and
Alterity in Sociological Perspective, Frank Welz (Freiburg) Presented at JNU-Freiburg
Sociology Workshop on "Culture and Society in the Era of Globalization",
Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, zmk.uni-freiburg.de/Online_Texts/Welz_Identity.pdf
Abstract:Contrasting different approaches to identity the search is for a specific
socio-logical concept that offers an alternative to an essentialist understanding of
identity aswell as to the contradictory celebration of the Other. Whereas all things
considered thelatter means a sanguine or pessimistic reification of group differences, the
former viewhas become increasingly outdated: in an era of globalization the real
experience ofalterity that is the experience of different identities (rather than identity
in the singular)renders essentialist interpretations of identity obsolete. (1) Firstly,
the reasons are dis-cussed why the theoretical and practical discourse on the other and
alterity (and theproblem of cultural recognition) is so topical in contemporary social and
culturalsciences. (2) Secondly, theories of identity (and the other) from phenomenology
viasymbolic interactionism and systems theory to genetic structuralism are
examined.Whereas the individual first-person subject under consideration is characteristic
ofthe phenomenological theory, the attitudes of the Other are, by contrast, the origin
foreach particular identity according to symbolic interactionism.On the other hand,
adifference theory approach as systems theoryof Niklas Luhmann explodes the concep-tual
framework of traditional approaches attempting to open up a perspective for Alte-rity.
However, a structural-genetic approachattributed to Pierre Bourdieu and othersdoes not
conceptualize identity as an immutable essence as well although indeed itpermits an
inquiry into identity insisting on that its structures are not pre-given butconstituted in
practice.(3) Finally, the aim is rethinking identity in sociological perspective arguing
for atheoretical contribution to the current problematic of identity politics.Identity is
multi-faceted. Contrasting different approaches to the former the search isfor a specific
sociological concept that offers an alternative to an essentialist under-standing of
identity as well as to the contradictory celebration of the Other. Whereasthe latter is
currently wide spread in intellectual debates but ultimately means a sangui-ne or
pessimistic reification of group differences, the former view has become increa-singly
obsolete: in an era of globalization where the possibilities of experiencing alterityand
therefore questioning identity has increased immeasurably. Firstly, the question iswhy the
theoretical discourse on the other and alterity as well as the practical discourse. |