catii's review against another edition
hopeful
informative
medium-paced
4.75
this book entirely shifted my framework for thinking about capitalism from imagining a homogenous intentional and rational (though obvious, evil) system to thinking about it as something much more paticularistic and circumstantial...i also thought the analysis of how climate change is affecting capitalist development and logics was rlly interesting and far more nuanced than other anticapitalist thinking in this area that ive come across
garberdog's review against another edition
3.0
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.
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