Dynamics of Caste and Law
Dalits, Oppression and Constitutional Democracy in India

The book explains how questions of caste and law involve persistent challenges concerning inequality and democracy in India's postcolonial state.

Dag-Erik Berg (Author)

9781108489874, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 27 February 2020

260 pages
23.5 x 15.7 x 2 cm, 0.5 kg

Dynamics of Caste and Law breaks new ground in understanding how caste and law relate in India's democratic order. Caste has become a visible phenomenon often associated with discrimination, inequality and politics in India and globally. India's constitutional democracy has had a remarkable goal of creating equality in a context of caste. Despite constitutional promises with equal opportunities for the lower castes and outlawing of untouchability at the time of independence, recurring atrocities and inadequate implementation of law have called for rethinking and legal change. This book sheds new light on why caste oppression persists by using new theoretical perspectives as well as Bhimrao Ambedkar's concepts of the caste system. Focusing on struggles among India's Dalits, the castes formerly known as untouchables, the book draws on a rich material and explains, among other things, mechanisms of oppression and how powerful actors may gain influence in institutions of law and state.

List of abbreviations
Preface
Acknowledgements
Introduction
1. Foundations of caste and constitutional democracy: Ambedkar, equality and law
2. Law beyond untouchability: from temple entry to atrocity and legal change
3. The Karamchedu killings and the struggle to uncover untouchability
4. Casteism and the Tsundur atrocity
5. Goals of law, goals of order: institutional conversion after atrocities
6: Modernity of caste: higher education, inequality and caste struggles for reservation
7. Conclusions on caste and law
Glossary
Bibliography
Index.

Subject Areas: Law & society [LAQ], Political structure & processes [JPH], Politics & government [JP], Sociology [JHB]