Rather than organizing solely around belief systems, programmatic manifestos, or party affiliation, identity political formations typically aim to secure the political freedom of a specific constituency marginalized within its larger context.
"You present something that people freak out about because it's not immediate in their minds or the particular constituency is marginalized or known for not voting," Ammiano said.
In all the recent turmoil, one Harvard constituency has been strangely marginalized: its undergraduates.
Putin reached out to the broad public and mostly ignored those still professing liberal and Westernizing ideas, a constituency that has long been marginalized and unpopular.
Frank J. Cilluffo, director of the Homeland Security Policy Institute at George Washington University, said the new statements attributed to Mr. bin Laden showed "perhaps more Al Qaeda's fear that they are increasingly becoming marginalized in the eyes and minds of some key constituencies in the Middle East, and their need to show they are still relevant".
As the 2012 election progresses, there is every sign that Republicans will seek to strengthen the perception of the Obama administration as dependent on constituencies that are often disadvantaged or that have been previously marginalized.
To avoid becoming marginalized, the conservation movement will need to diversify its outreach strategy, engaging novel and diverse constituencies.
"Not marginalized," she said.
Nazi revanchists were marginalized.
Thrillers are not marginalized.
