Why Liberal Theory Needs Its Own Theory of Identity: The Way for Strengthening Liberal Theory

The topic of identity has been influencing both the liberal-democratic state and liberal theory for quite a long time – since the establishment of the theory of multiculturalism and identity politics, liberal theory has been challenged by various demands coming from both individuals and groups calling for the recognition of their specific characteristic and even identities. Liberal theory itself usually responds to these challenges with an attempt to accept some of these demands but still remain liberal in the most important principles. The particular example of this kind of reaction is liberal multiculturalism. The problem of such attitude is that although it attempts to reflect ideas and demands from so-called “identity groups”, it does not reflect the problem itself – the subject of identity. I want to argue that for the very existence of liberal theory it is not possible only to be retreating. Such concessions may be convenient from a short-term point of view but definitely not as long-term prospects. In other words, this kind of attitude can be defeating for the liberal theory itself. In the paper I claim that liberal theory has to accept the very concept of identity and create its own theory of liberal identity. It can enable liberal theory not only to adequately respond to demands of diverse individuals and groups within the identity politics, it can also create a solid base – and a kind of barrier – behind which liberal theory can not move backwards because of its own identity. Given this and following the general assumption in social sciences about the division of individual identity into its inner (personal) and outer (collective) part, I would like to argue that liberal theory should concentrate mainly on the outer part of identity. Literally, it means that that the inevitable base of liberal identity is political collectivity. In other words, the political principles and their fulfillment are a requisite of liberal theory itself. This naturally means that if liberal theory did not highlight such precondition, it would act against its own identity. This could be not only, as I would like to argue, a significant foundation for the potential reaction against the demands of particular individual and groups acting in the name of identity politics. I would also like to claim that consciousness of its own identity – where is its place – could actually strengthen liberal theory. Since if we accept the role that identity could play in liberal theory, we can boost its very principles.