Ethnic and Racial Studies· 2026Q1
Caste as an ideological apparatus of accumulation and oppression: revisiting the stratification framework
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- Q1SCImago
- 2026year
Short summary
Caste inequality in India is perpetuated by ideological apparatuses like rituals and religious sanctions, functioning as a tool for capital accumulation and oppression.
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Key points
- Caste inequality is perpetuated by ideological apparatuses, not inherent essentialism.
- Rituals and religious sanctions are key ideological tools maintaining caste hierarchy.
- Centuries of ideological apparatus use result in persistent economic, social, and political deprivation.
- Caste oppression functions as an ideological apparatus supporting capital accumulation.
AI-generated from the title and abstract; the full text is not read.
Abstract
Caste within Indian society remains an oppressive living reality for the vast majority and a privilege for a few. This reality, however, has not remained static; it has evolved over time. This paper examines two aspects of caste. First, it positions itself within the debate on stratification, arguing against the essentialized nature of caste-based inequality and showing instead how such inequality has been perpetuated through a variety of ideological apparatuses – including rituals and religious sanctions linked to hierarchy and difference. Second, it argues that the ever-expanding use of these ideological apparatuses over centuries has produced persistent and growing economic, social, and political deprivation, reflected today in demands for a caste census and redistribution of wealth. The paper concludes that caste oppression itself functions as an ideological apparatus in the service of capital, as indicated by its comfortable relationship with capital.
The authors' abstract, as published at the source. Ethnic and Racial Studies, 2026 · DOI ↗
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Field: Philosophy
PhilosophyArts and Humanities