Racial Capitalism In India:Focusing On Castes

This study is based on Neo-Marxism research and focuses on the phenomenon of racial capitalism,analyzed in the context of India through a case study.The research is conducted with incorporation of perspectives from contemporary labor studies,with specialised scrutinisation over the existence and interaction of identity mechanisms and exploitation behaviors in Indian society.The two main goals of this study are to critically examine the labor conditions of a specific country and to expand the meaning and scope of the term racial capitalism in theoretical terms.Based on previous literature,the study argues that racial capitalism is an important mode and even a critical component of contemporary capitalist development.Its essence is the mobilisation of a differentiated identity hierarchy system by the capitalist development system to construct and exclude low-end social groups,and to incorporate them as inferior labor populations into economic activities.Based on the deep level of identity oppression,these groups are subjected to material exploitation,ultimately leading to capital accumulation based on dispossession.Hence the major contribution of the perspective of racial capitalism to traditional Marxist research,which lies in the introduction of identity characteristics that are often regarded as external attributes into the realm of class analysis,providing new vitality and direction to Marxist research discourse,and making the struggle more relevant to the daily lives of modern workers.Guided by the perspective of racial capitalism,this study focuses on potential groups that are subject to identity-based exploitation and conducts a descriptive analysis of their interrelationships and occurrence.Overall,previous research on racial capitalism has been predominantly pertinent to the lowest-hierarchical population groups within a specific identity system,highlighting the potential occurrence and consequences of racial capitalism.In this study,the socially disadvantaged groups in Indian society,namely the Dalits(untouchables)and Adivasis(the indigenous people),are the main objects of analysis.They are subject to inferior identity and,due to their identity,suffer more unfair treatment in the economic system than other social groups.Through analyzing the specific experiences of the Dalits and Adivasis,this study successfully answers two research questions:1)Does the Racial Capitalism Theory have applicable significance in India?2)If so,how does this theory explain the specific situation in India?The study argues that there is a differentiated identity system that can be utilized by the mechanism of racial capitalism in Indian society,namely the caste-based identity system.This system is not only a legacy of local Indian history but also deliberately constructed by foreign colonizers,and has long been highly mobilized to implement cruel exploitation of those with inferior identity.Based on the results of contemporary labor studies,the study finds that both the Dalits and Adivasis bear heavy pressure in the production and reproduction processes,not only being exploited in the workplace but also facing discrimination in their daily lives.This discrimination also spreads to the work environment,leading to more severe oppression.Overall,in the context of racial capitalism theory,it is found out that certain social groups in India endure day after day of inherent inequality,holistic class exploitation,and extreme discrimination,which is significantly related to the caste system.It can be advanced that the Racial Capitalism Theory has explanatory power in India and can benefit from India’s unique experience,which differs from typical Western countries,to enrich its own theoretical content.This venture suggests a revelation of potential for intersectionality between the research on racial capitalism and mainstream labor studies,also Marxist political economy analysis.The Racial Capitalism Theory has the asset for broader application,to more cases;while this would yield more heterodox perspectives,it can as well help the theory itself to continuously improve.