Torture and Racism
A Brief Insight into an Age-Old and Intimate Relationship
abstract
At the basis of the development of capitalism, fed from the beginning with low-cost and high-productivity labour, there are two elements that operate in symbiosis: racism and torture. One feeds on the other, because both are an expression of the same hierarchical violence, created and applied with the aim to subjugate, control and devalue the workforce. This essay aims to explore the historical and intimate link between torture and racism, also putting into play an important analytical category: political economy.
Keywords: Torture • Social classes • Violence • Exploitation • Racism