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Rethinking Racial Capitalism: Questions of Reproduction and Survival
How has capitalism created or enhanced racism? In what ways do the violent histories of slavery and empire continue to influence the allocation of global resources?
Rethinking Racial Questions of Reproduction and Survival proposes a return to analyses of racial capitalism – the capitalism that is inextricably linked with histories of racist expropriation – and argues that it is only by tracking the interconnections between changing modes of capitalism and racism that we can hope to address the most urgent challenges of social injustice. It considers the continuing impact of global histories of racist expropriation on more recent articulations of capitalism, with a particular focus on the practices of racial capitalism, the continuing impact of uneven development, territory and border-marking, the place of reproductive labour in sustaining racial capitalism, the marketing of diversity as a consumer pleasure and the creation of supposedly 'surplus' populations.
Rethinking Racial Questions of Reproduction and Survival proposes a return to analyses of racial capitalism – the capitalism that is inextricably linked with histories of racist expropriation – and argues that it is only by tracking the interconnections between changing modes of capitalism and racism that we can hope to address the most urgent challenges of social injustice. It considers the continuing impact of global histories of racist expropriation on more recent articulations of capitalism, with a particular focus on the practices of racial capitalism, the continuing impact of uneven development, territory and border-marking, the place of reproductive labour in sustaining racial capitalism, the marketing of diversity as a consumer pleasure and the creation of supposedly 'surplus' populations.
222 pages, Kindle Edition
Published July 27, 2018
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About the author
Gargi Bhattacharyya
18 books20 followersGargi Bhattacharyya is a Professor of Sociology at the University of East London. They have written widely in the fields of racism, sexuality, global cultures and the ‘war on terror’.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 4, 2018
This book was somewhat disappointing.
To be sure, Bhattacharyya does cover several key areas to assess the imbrication of histories of racialization and processes of capitalist development. However, despite repeatedly acknowledging her indebtedness to Cederic Robinson’s Black Marxism, she does not develop a coherent account of “racial capitalism.”
To be fair, Bhattacharyya clearly states that she tried to do that, but that it was not ultimately possible because of the historical variation in the relationship between capitalist accumulation and regimes of racialization. Fair enough, but for the fact that what she does provide is underwhelming.
Bhattacharyya does not cover issues of mass incarceration, settler colonialism, or labor union politics in any significant way. Insofar as she does address issues of empire, slavery, and borders, this is done in a fairly superficial and brief way. Her strongest contribution is her central focuses on issues of social reproduction, thereby directly connecting contemporary feminist discussions to anti-racist ones. Sadly, even this strand is fairly underdeveloped, and relies heavily on Maria Mies 1986 text Patriarchal Accumulation on a World Scale.
For a broad and accessible overview of several key areas that are much needed starting points for further research on racial capitalism, this book is a fine start. However, it should be supplemented with extensive additional reading, particularly historical accounts that could add texture to and remedy the presentism of Bhattacharyya‘s account.
One final point: Bhattacharyya maintains an engaging rhetorical style throughout, and should be commended for how she draws her reader into what might otherwise be quite dry material.
To be sure, Bhattacharyya does cover several key areas to assess the imbrication of histories of racialization and processes of capitalist development. However, despite repeatedly acknowledging her indebtedness to Cederic Robinson’s Black Marxism, she does not develop a coherent account of “racial capitalism.”
To be fair, Bhattacharyya clearly states that she tried to do that, but that it was not ultimately possible because of the historical variation in the relationship between capitalist accumulation and regimes of racialization. Fair enough, but for the fact that what she does provide is underwhelming.
Bhattacharyya does not cover issues of mass incarceration, settler colonialism, or labor union politics in any significant way. Insofar as she does address issues of empire, slavery, and borders, this is done in a fairly superficial and brief way. Her strongest contribution is her central focuses on issues of social reproduction, thereby directly connecting contemporary feminist discussions to anti-racist ones. Sadly, even this strand is fairly underdeveloped, and relies heavily on Maria Mies 1986 text Patriarchal Accumulation on a World Scale.
For a broad and accessible overview of several key areas that are much needed starting points for further research on racial capitalism, this book is a fine start. However, it should be supplemented with extensive additional reading, particularly historical accounts that could add texture to and remedy the presentism of Bhattacharyya‘s account.
One final point: Bhattacharyya maintains an engaging rhetorical style throughout, and should be commended for how she draws her reader into what might otherwise be quite dry material.
November 2, 2025
fine, but boring
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews