Identity is constructed through boundary-making against the groups most similar to one’s own.

Evidence

Identity framing is a form of boundary making. In the Neo-Bourdieusian approach, symbolic boundaries are a special form of classification used by individuals to locate themselves and, often, their group by defining what belongs to a social category and what does not (Lamont 2002; Lamont and Molnár 2002). As Bourdieu noted, “social identity lies in difference, and difference is asserted against what is closest, which represents the greatest threat” (Bourdieu 1984, p. 479). — Donatella della Porta et al., Mobilizing Against the Odds, 34

Categorization

• DEFINE: Introduces Neo-Bourdieusian symbolic boundary theory as the analytic lens.
• XREF: Bourdieu’s point that difference is asserted against what is closest links to inter-group conflict dynamics — echoes of how the least-different outgroups (not the most different) attract the sharpest hostility, per social identity theory. — connects to: Identity is constructed through opposition to a continuously reinterpreted other; Group identity is constructed by designating outsiders as others; Identity is constituted through relation to what is other and different from itself — Stuart Hall, Essential Essays, Volume 2: Identity…, 378 (+10 more)
• DEEPTHINKING: Social identity lies in difference asserted against what is closest’ is a dense, generative formulation about group hostility that reverses the naive assumption we fight our opposites — applicable well beyond labor organizing.

Broader Connections

• Group identity is constructed by designating outsiders as others #expands (0.88)
• Identity is constituted through exclusion of what it is not #corroborates (0.88)
• Group identities are invariably reinforced by reference to outsiders #corroborates (0.86) — Diego Gambetta, The Sicilian Mafia The Business of…, 356
• Identity is constituted through relation to what is other and different from itself #corroborates (0.85) — Stuart Hall, Essential Essays, Volume 2, 378
• Identity is simultaneously about belonging and about differentiating from others. #expands (0.84) — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 118
• Group identity formation requires the existence of enemies to define the self against #expands (0.83) — Samuel P. Huntington, The Clash of Civilizations and the…, 33
• Identity is constructed through opposition to a continuously reinterpreted other #qualifies (0.82)
• Social identity derives its value from comparisons against out-groups #corroborates (0.82) — John T. Jost and Jim Sidanius, Political Psychology, 2718
• Conflicting groups can define their own identities negatively through the other’s failure #exemplifies (0.80) — Roderick M. Kramer, Geoffrey J. Leonardelli, Robert W. Livingston, Social Cognition, Social Identity, and…, 1123
• Communities form identity relationally only through encounter with an other #qualifies (0.80) — David Theo Goldberg, John Solomos, A Companion to Racial and Ethnic Studies, 2678
• Identity relations involve more than a single sameness-difference axis. #complicates (0.79) — Mary Bucholtz and Kira Hall, Identity and Interaction, 71
• Modern identity is constituted through the exclusion of its own opposite #qualifies (0.78)
• Religious group solidarity organizes others into outgroups by identity #exemplifies (0.78) — Deborah L. Hall and David C. Matz and Wendy Wood, Why Don’t We Practice What We Preach? A…, 77