What is factional politics or factionalism?

faction noun fac·​tion | \ ˈfak-shən  \
Definition of faction

1: a party or group (as within a government) that is often contentious or self-seeking : CLIQUE
//The committee soon split into factions.
2: party spirit especially when marked by dissension
//faction, or the irreconcilable conflict of parties— Ernest Barker

How does that differ from identity politics? Well, the dictionary does have a definition.

identity politics
noun, plural in form but singular or plural in construction
Definition of identity politics

: politics in which groups of people having a particular racial, religious, ethnic, social, or cultural identity tend to promote their own specific interests or concerns without regard to the interests or concerns of any larger political group
//Identity politics took its modern form during the second half of the last century. It emerged as an emancipatory mode of political action and thinking based on the shared experience of injustice by particular groups—notably blacks, women, gays, Latinos and American Indians.— Orlando Patterson
//Although the UCLA center’s standards promoted rigorous history, they set off a major culture war because of their relentless emphasis on identity politics.— Diane Ravitch
//Identity politics is contemporary shorthand for a group’s assertion that it is a meaningful group; that it differs significantly from other groups; that its members share a history of injustice and grievance; and that its psychological and political mission is to explore, act out, act on and act up its group identity.— Catharine R. Stimpson
//A number of critics have viewed her work through a lens of identity politics, taking her to be some sort of oracle of Muslim womanhood.— Lauren Collins

These days what we call identity politics is just a new form of factional politics. However, instead of the have-nots and the haves just warring over the our nation’s material wealth, we now war over every aspect of the content of our culture.

Look at what the politicians behind the identity politics movement advocate. The vast majority of White Anglo-Saxon Protestants (WASPS) and much of the rest of our nation still support the traditional family, oppose abortion, disdain Socialism, reverence constitutional rights for all Americans, favor an America first foreign policy that avoids optional conflicts, and so forth. Yet all these values are under heavy assault. Why? Identity politics. When we allow ourselves to be divided into endless identity groups, we can be easily divided.

Consider some of the major identity groups. Many Muslims, Hispanics, blacks, women, homosexuals, the disabled, and so forth are social Conservatives. Yet in a nation with relatively few Muslims, Hispanics, blacks, women (not actually a minority), homosexuals, the disabled, and so forth; Muslims, Hispanics, blacks, women (not actually a minority), homosexuals, the disabled, and so forth see themselves as threaten minorities, and they tend to feel isolated. So these racial, religious, ethnic, social, or cultural, sexual, gender, handicapped, and whatever groups tend to gravitate to those politicians who appear most willing to “protect” them. Identity politics thus serves is a sort of protection racket, a rather silly protection racket.

How gullible are we? How difficult is to defend the rights of someone from a person who isn’t even interested in trying to attack them? Doesn’t it seem like that all a politician has to do is convince us someone is denying us something we want, something we can be convinced we “deserve?”

What is the trick? How do politicians convince us to be so stupid? Instead of seeking the best interests of our family, friends, neighbors, communities, and nation; we just seek to get “what’s mine,” but that is the way a two-year old thinks.

Identity politics is an empty promise. Since almost nobody is trying to discriminate against Muslims, blacks, women, homosexuals, the disabled, and so forth, those who who divide us by “identity” must propose outrageous nonsense like same-sex “marriage” and fake “hate crimes” to stir up animosity. Thus, because of fears engendered by demagogues, blacks, Muslims, Hispanics, and other minorities often vote for politicians who appear to be caring and compassionate, but advocate policies that tear apart families, cheapen our culture, waste money, and reward rich donors.

Demagoguery is nothing new. Aristotle (iep.utm.edu) wrote about it thousands of years ago. Identity politics is just is its newest manifestation. To fight it, we must do what Jesus Christ would have us do, love our neighbor as we love our self.