Dalit politics in India: recognition without redistribution

Abstract

Dalit political parties in north and central India have overwhelmingly pursued an agenda of recognition, calling for equal respect, rather than one of redistribution. While this has improved the social and economic standing of those Dalits better situated in terms of class, it has failed to substantively improve the lives of the majority of Dalits. Ultimately, Dalits’ quest for equal treatment will be limited so long as it lacks a redistributive politics that addresses exploitative economic relations. We use the case of the Bahujan Samaj Party in Uttar Pradesh to illustrate our arguments.