Kanhaiya As Marx had argued, the base and superstructure are two interlinked concepts, with the superstructure growing out of the base. Base, here refers to the productive forces, or the materials and resources, that generate the goods society needs. French theorist Louis Althusser in Ideology and the State (1970), expands this idea and explores the…
Category: Policy 360
Contains academic papers (articles of more than 2500 -3000 words) and Book Reviews
Private Governance and the Politics of Hate Speech
Given the widespread use of hate speech by politicians as a polarizing instrument, private governance becomes an increasingly important factor to consider in the discipline of public policy. Here, Srinidhi highlights the importance ‘private governance’ in light of the making and implementation hate speech policies by Facebook.
Digesting Caste: Caste on my Plate
The second of a two-part article, this piece explores how food based caste-discrimination manifests itself within the structure of official State food security policies.
Digesting Caste: Graded Inequality in Food Habits
Caste based discrimination assumes varying forms and shapes, with discrimination embedded into food and food habits being particularly worrisome. This article explores the historical and cultural context from which this issue arises.
Panchami Land: Where Social Justice Stays Buried
Tamil Nadu was first witness to land reforms in favour of dalits towards the end of 19th century when the British government came out with orders for Panchami Land. Thereafter, land reforms have been carried out in favour of Dalits in independent India as well. Despite these measures, why has this marginalised community continued to remain overwhelmingly landless? A product of over a month spent on field in Tamil Nadu, this piece by Mathur systematically untangles the foregoing question by comprehensively problemitising the situation of Panchami land.