Dialogue on difference: Identity and political communication

Identity is a crucial force in every facet of contemporary politics, but political communication research has too often addressed it only superficially, excluded it from the subfield's primary foci, and failed to acknowledge many dominant identities as forms of identity that circulate globally. Still, recent scholarly endeavors create space for deeper conversations about identity in communication research. This essay engages this conversation in the context of political communication research, arguing for the need to emphasize and more thoughtfully interrogate identity in its myriad forms. To make this case, we first review recent research in three domains (elite communication, journalistic norms/routines, and engagement) that productively engage with identity - or that would benefit from unraveling specific intersections and/or implications of identity. We then consider the path forward, providing strategies for scholars in political communication and beyond to productively center identity in their research.