Capitalism and Racism in the Longue Durée: An Analysis of Their Reflexive Determinations

Abstract

The genesis of racism, its specific features, conceptual boundaries, and position within capitalist relations of production have been widely discussed. Although there is no consensus as to what came first, and neither as to what prevails in the complex and relational dynamics of social reproduction, there is a general agreement that racism is a multidimensional phenomenon that combines group discrimination and hierarchization, guided by naturalized assumptions and supposedly inherent differences. This study examines the historical features of several racist theories to provide a more accurate view of the reflexive determinations between capitalism and racism.