Psychology
Identity Politics and Coalition Building in Multiethnic Societies
Quick fact
In societies with many ethnic groups, the number of political parties tends to be higher, and voters often support parties that match their own ethnicity—even when economic policies would contradict their interests.
Why this is interesting
We often think of politics as being about left vs. right, but in many countries, the most powerful divisions are ethnic or religious. Why does a shared skin color or language sometimes beat economic interest as a political cue?