Answers are grounded in this paper and cite their sources.
Critical commentary reveals limitations in extending racial capitalism beyond the Euro-Atlantic sphere, suggesting global universalization of the framework is difficult to sustain.
The brief essay is a response to an article by the French sociologist Loïc Wacquant which critiques the concept of “racial capitalism” that has gained much prominence and currency in recent times. It offers a historical analysis of the emergence of “race” as a concept in the Euro-Atlantic sphere and points to the complexities in extending it beyond that space, into the Indian Ocean world for example. As a consequence, the ambitious claims made by some theorists of “racial capitalism” appear difficult to sustain.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Sanjay Subrahmanyam (2023) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 10 related papers. Consider them for comparative context: