What drives the persistent use of race and religion in campaigns?

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The Enduring Influence of Race and Religion in Malaysian Political Campaigns

Malaysian politicians persistently employ race and religion in electoral campaigns due to a confluence of historical embedding, the power of fear and identity, and the perceived low cost of identity politics. These strategies are deeply rooted in the nation's political history, where appeals to communal anxieties have become a recurring and often effective means of mobilising voters, despite their detrimental impact on national discourse and problem-solving capabilities.
Historical Entrenchment and Escalation of Identity Politics

The use of race and religion in Malaysian politics is not a recent phenomenon but is deeply embedded within the country's historical development. Over decades, these themes have intensified, becoming central to electoral debates. Politicians, regardless of their party's ethnic base, frequently frame campaigns around communal security, threats to cultural rights, or the perceived political dominance of one group over another. This strategy is consistently applied, often disguised as efforts to protect dignity or preserve political power, thereby exploiting existing communal anxieties.
The Potency of Fear and Identity in Mobilisation

The effectiveness of race and religion-based rhetoric stems from the potent psychological impact of fear and the fundamental human need for identity and belonging. In times of economic uncertainty or social change, appeals to identity offer a sense of security, making voters more susceptible to narratives of communal loss or threat. Politicians leverage these genuine concerns, such as economic mobility, cultural recognition, or institutional fairness, by attaching them to identity-based anxieties. This approach, while manipulative, often resonates because it taps into deeply held emotions and historical memories, proving more persuasive than purely policy-driven arguments.
The Economic and Political Advantages of Identity Politics

Identity politics is particularly attractive to politicians because it is perceived as a low-cost strategy. Unlike policy-based campaigning, which requires detailed proposals, measurable targets, and accountability for unfulfilled promises, identity politics demands little in terms of concrete governance plans. Politicians can generate strong emotional reactions and secure loyalty by appealing to communal sentiments without the burden of delivering specific policy outcomes. This allows them to avoid addressing complex issues like wages, housing, healthcare, or accountable governance, instead focusing on manufactured crises that corner voters emotionally and politically.

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What drives the persistent use of race and religion in campaigns?

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