Blog 5

            Social scientists use the term “identity” as our ability to attach labels to ourselves or to define ourselves in terms of the groups we belong to.  This can be applied to where we stand politically and the opinion we hold.  Thus, political identity, while fitting into the above-mentioned definition, is also any identity that significantly shapes our political decisions (Hawkins).  These two can be intertwined; for example, a person’s identity that is derived from social class or religion can influence their political identity.  This begs the question, is there a distinct LDS political identity here in the United States? If so, what causes it? We will analyze this question and see what it tells us about primordialist and constructivists arguments.

            It is a well-known fact that Latter-day Saints are generally politically conservative and vote Republican, but does this suggest that a member of the LDS church would be more likely to vote for a Mormon, despite his or her political party? The answer may not be all that surprising.  A recent survey conducted by BYU’s Center for the Study of Elections and Democracy found that 19% of Utah Mormon Democrats are strongly in favor of Mitt Romney, while just 4% of Utah Democrats of other faiths share the same favoritism.  Another result showed that while just 23% of Utah Democrats favor Mitt Romney, that number jumps to 42% when looking at Mormon Democrats in Utah.  These results suggest that having an identity such as religion in common is often enough to persuade voters, regardless of party platforms.  It is improbable all 19% who strongly favor Romney actually agree politically with him, but a shared religion is enough to make the difference (Monson).

            These results suggest that religion plays a key role in determining one’s political identity as it is very influential in rearing a person one way or another.  For example, members of the LDS church are generally pro-life as they see this life as a crucial step in God’s plan for His children.  They believe that the family is ordained of God and that marriage is sacred, thus commonly voting against gay marriage rights. Also, Mormons commonly believe in the idea of self-reliance, or the ability to work and provide for oneself and family without relying on the government or other outside sources, therefore voting against what they might see as forms of socialism.  In these cases, there is a distinct LDS political identity in the United States, as peoples’ faith is shown to steer them in a specific political direction.

            How is it that these identities are formed? There are two prevailing theories regarding the formation of political identities: primordialism and constructivism.  Primordialism suggests that people obtain an identity early in life through family, religious, and other environmental influences and that these identities are not easily-changeable.  Constructivism proposes that political identities are “constructed” over time and that they are easily-changeable.  In regards to the LDS politically identity, it appears that primordialism is the answer.  Many Latter-day Saints are raised in large families, taught hard work ethic and learn the importance of patriotism and the honor that is seen in military involvement. Most are even part of an “LDS society,” or a communal feeling of solidarity among Mormons, even outside of the state of Utah where political opinions are often held in common.

      The aforementioned survey results suggest that a deeply held piece of one’s identity such as religion is very influential in fostering opinions and that a politician’s ability to relate to voters in terms of their identity can be an effective way to win votes.  The primordialist argument identifies the cause of this identity: Most Mormons are raised with it.  Thus, it appears that there is indeed an LDS political identity here in the United States, both in and outside of Utah. 

 Works Cited

Hawkins, Kirk. "Political Identity." Lecture, Comparative Politics from Brigham Young    University, Provo, October 10, 2012.

Monson, Quin. "Do LDS Dems Like Mitt Romney?." Utah Data Points.     http://utahdatapoints.com/ (accessed October 10, 2012).