Answer to Question #195697 in Sociology for Habakak

Question

What is pluralism and inter colonialism and how does pluralism and inter colonialism have to do with Burawoy's reading of race class and colonialism?

Answer 1

Pluralism is a concept used to refer to the process of interpreting social diversity. Yumatle (2014) noted that pluralism could be rendered as a political, philosophical, and cultural stance. It provides an account of social interactions, which are normally interpreted as an interplay of competing and conflicting positions. Inter-colonialism or uneven development refers to the economic development inequalities in a region due to excessive exploitation of the minority group resulting in economic and political inequalities. Burawoy's reading of race class and colonialism articulates racial stratification and racial divisions from pluralism and inter colonialism perspectives. Burawoy (1974) argued that the whites used their power to suppress the black people by undertaking massive relocation and control of the population of the black Americans in the society. The politically powerful whites coerced black people to provide relatively cheap labor. The resultant effects included creating a bid gap on economic, political, and social differences between African Americans and whites. Conclusively, Burawoy's reading of race, class, and colonialism accentuates the principles and tenets of pluralism and inter colonialism.

References

Burawoy, M. (1974). Race, class, and colonialism. Social and Economic Studies, 521-550.

Yumatle, C. (2014). Pluralism. The encyclopedia of political thought, 2724-2743.