Blind Alleys and Red Herrings? Social Movements, the State, Class Alliances and Pro-Labouring Class Strategy

This chapter reflects on strategies aimed at improving the material and political conditions of India’s labouring class. It does so through an analysis of two prominent Indian social movements that engages with debates about where the fundamental fault-lines of domination and collective action lie. In line with approaches that recognise class differences within the countryside as well as transnational aspects of exploitation, it argues that cross-class alliances are not in labour’s interests, and should be rejected in favour of organising ‘classes of labour’. This requires place and time-sensitive strategies, which may include engagement with the state when this can augment labour’s room for political manoeuvre. Undue acceleration of pro-labour strategies may trigger countermoves that leave it in a worst position, while undue hesitancy can unnecessarily restrict the scope of change and hold down the material conditions of millions.