I'm getting curious about variables that seem like they should form a part of the basis of identity politics, but don't, like height (it is a shared trait, it is visible, it is the basis of some disadvantages). Are there are other such variables?
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I'm waiting for DNA profiles (e.g. 23andMe) to be the basis of tribal affiliation.
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Long shot I’d say. “We the >4% Neanderthals demand recognition...” Ethnic nationalism is an affiliation people might discover thru genetics but I find it hard to see that having noticeable effects. Good for a quirky PR line to feed journos but little more
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Yeah it has to be an unfakeable visible costly signal. Diseases are an interesting case: stigmatized diseases like leprosy are the ones that create visible markers.
I'm thinking of higher order groupings than 4%, , but point taken. It may be that at higher levels we are back to geography anyway (e.g. Northern europe, basque region), but even there, maybe it puts more pressure on current national boundaries.


