Racism in the Global South: Do we need a new definition?

Debates about race and racism are dominated by theories developed largely in the context of the transatlantic slave trade and the racialized regime in America. These theories tend to emphasize phenotypical differences and conflate racism and slavery. In parallel, marginalized groups in the Global South are increasingly articulating their demands within the framework of racism. Building on contemporary political debates and historiographical research in and on South Asia, I will discuss the possibility of redefining racism today as a mode of democratic governance.