The Cultural Turn in Indian Sociology: Examining Theoretical Approaches to Globalization

11 Sep

Authors-Mirza Mohd Abu Tayyab

Abstract- This paper examines the theoretical approaches to globalization adopted by Indian sociologists from the 1990s onwards, with a focus on the persistent emphasis on culture. It argues that the dominance of cultural explanations, stemming from earlier Indological and modernization paradigms, led to a neglect of political economy and structural inequalities in analyses of globalization. The paper traces how concepts from Western cultural studies were selectively appropriated, while engagement with critical political economy remained limited. It suggests this theoretical orientation contributed to overlooking issues like agrarian distress, labor precarity and the rise of cultural nationalism. The paper concludes by calling for more integrated approaches that can better capture the complex realities of contemporary India.

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