Perspectives on Globalization and Subalternity

Processes of globalization have had contradictory consequences in postcolonial societies, where recent neoliberal policies have exacerbated uneven development that began with colonial rule. Delineating these processes and their gendered effects in India, this chapter argues for a critical regionalism that does not take geographical units for granted. It analyses parallels between transnational alliances forged in the past and the present that have challenged (neo-)imperialist structures while also seeking just alternatives within the framework of the Non-Aligned Movement and the World Social Forum. The chapter concludes that it is urgent to re-imagine mechanisms for dispensing justice and human rights that enable the participation of, and address the needs and aspirations of, the most vulnerable citizens in the postcolonial world.