The Social Choice Approach to Group Identification

Abstract

The chapter gives an overview of selected topics from the theory of group identification. As a starting point serve different axiomatic characterizations of the “libera” rule for group identification whereby the group consist of those and only those individuals each of which views oneself a member of the group. We then focus on consent rules and recursive procedures for collective determination where the opinions of other individuals in the society also count. Finally, we address recent developments in the literature with respect to gradual opinions and group identity functions.