5:14AM
Globalization v. caste
Monday, August 20, 2007 at 5:14AM ARTICLE: India's Lower Castes Seek Social Progress In Global Job Market, By Emily Wax, Washington Post, August 20, 2007; Page A01
The crux of how globalization forces India to evolve from the crushing inefficiencies and injustices of its thousands-of-years-old caste system. This is the great hindrance to progress in India: they have had a democracy for a long time but lack a meritocracy because so much of their population is subtly and non-subtly denied economic freedom.
Globalization forces change by demonstrating what broadband economic connectivity really means: the end of identity according to what your daddy's job once was--even if that's codified by some ancient caste.
Reader Comments (6)
The article is about extending affirmative action for scheduled castes and OBC (other backwards castes) from the public sector to the private sector.
(SC and OBC are dalits and other groups that have been historically opressed)
You can argue the merits of this affirmative action -- and clearly some poeple have benefited from this -- the result is the OPPOSITE of a meritoracy. You ability to go to uni and get a job is largely now based on your caste grouping, not your ability. One reason we see such an outflow of educated Indians into the mideast and West is educated Indians -- largely from the "forward castes" are the ones scrambling around looking for a meritocracy.
Globalization works in India when politics get dragged in; when the politicans try to lay down rule-sets they have usually screwed them up -- big time. The promotion of caste-based rule sets have created more internal divisions in the country, rather than "ending identity."
Sorry, the rule-set doesn't fit the facts on the ground.
I see the direction, you're countering with degree.
I recognize the baby step of affirmative action to jump start a legacy of discrimination. That's just another growing-up phase.
Asking nations to do the equivalent of shock therapy almost never works. Either they ease into the change or the blowback is too great.
You've got to view the pathway realistically.
As far as the meritocracy argument goes, statistics ensures, especially with the huge numerical disparity in India between lower and upper castes, that the best few or even many of the excluded group will have very superior capabilities and intelligence, albeit often underdeveloped and underexpressed because of limited access to education and opportunity. But once given that access they will typically shine. They will show themselves to be at the far right end tail of anyone's Bell curve.
I may agree with Tom's macro point: globalization forces you to confront these historical prejudices. Certainly did in the US, which was good.
Unfortantley the move to extend affirmative action to the private sector in India is still no such beast.
The key is the wording "Scheduled Castes and Other Backwards Castes". SC are what were known as dalits, or untouchables. OBC are more salt of the earth types. Together they are about 50% of the Indian population. Throw is muslims (another "oppressed" group in India, although they ruled the place for 1000 years) and "Scheduled Tribes" (aborgonial groups in India" and you got 60-75% of the population asking for a piece of the action through affirmative action policies. That is nothing like our experience -- much more simiiar to the "Sons of the soil" in Malaya where 70% of the population is given preferential treatment.
The real story, is I said, one of perverse incentives. Government benefits have included this form of affirmative action for several generations. The result has been forcing rich Indians into private school, going overseas, learning English and entering the global economy. (That also is what is increasing the degree of inequality in India) When you're dealing with SC/OBC/ST, you're looking at the 50% of India that can't read or write. Reserving a job at Infosys is a noble goal, but how can an illiterate work as an engineer?