In Capital’s Food Regime: Class Struggle, the State and Corporate Agriculture in India, questions of democracy and politics in India come to the forefront through an incisive examination of agrarian transformations. The book reveals how global capital's influence permeates local agricultural practices, reshaping not just food production but also, through ongoing contestation, the lives of India's working classes.
Employing an innovative Marxist framework, the book critiques established scholarly approaches to the global food regime in agrarian studies. In so doing, the book deals with pressing issues of food security, the rights agenda, farmers’ mobilizations, and shifts away from food crops in contemporary India, locating these in view of broad questions of global agrarian transformations in the 21st century. The book scrutinizes the role of the state in advancing neoliberal policies that prioritize corporate interests over local farmers, thereby highlighting the intimate connection between governance and capital. This dynamic interplay fosters a landscape where contestations, such as the recent nationwide farmers' movements, challenge the status quo and raise urgent questions about democracy and social justice.
By engaging with the experiences of various classes of labor and mapping the impact of neoliberal transformations, Capital's Food Regime uncovers the socio-political consequences of India's integration into the global food regime. Jakobsen adeptly details how the state's complicity in driving these processes exacerbates inequalities, undermining any prospect for food sovereignty and the livelihoods of millions.
This critical investigation not only addresses the immediate struggles faced by farmers and rural Indians but also reflects on broader democratic challenges in India, making it an essential read for scholars, activists, and policymakers alike. By weaving together the themes of class struggle, state power, and corporate agriculture, Capital’s Food Regime offers a compelling narrative that speaks to the heart of ongoing debates around rights, resources, and the future of democracy in a rapidly transforming world. Read more about the book here: Capital’s Food Regime – Class Struggle, the State and Corporate Agriculture in India