Experts warn identity politics threatens national cohesion in diverse societies

Political commentators have raised alarm about the trajectory of identity-based politics in multi-religious democracies, warning that appeals to unite specific communities invariably create boundaries that exclude others. Scholars argue that when political movements organise around religious or ethnic identity, they inherently draw dividing lines—calls for Muslim unity necessarily mark out non-Muslim communities as outsiders, while appeals for non-Muslim solidarity mirror this exclusionary logic. This dynamic, analysts suggest, has corrosive effects on the middle ground where diverse populations traditionally negotiate shared interests and common citizenship. The erosion of this civic space has emerged as a critical concern for societies where multiple communities must coexist and cooperate within democratic institutions. Political theorists contend that sustainable governance in plural societies requires a shift from identity-based mobilisation toward citizenship-focused politics, where leaders appeal to shared rights, responsibilities and national goals that transcend religious or ethnic boundaries. Such an approach, they argue, preserves space for community-specific concerns while maintaining the overarching framework of equal citizenship that underpins social stability.