| Abstract | Class, race, and gender are theoretically distinct forms of "categorical inequality," rooted in "exploitation" and "opportunity hoarding," reproduced through "emulation," and institutionalized through "adaptation." These distinct forms of inequality are relatively autonomous, but their relative importance and autonomy varies socially and historically. They follow, in general, the dialectical relations of institutional political and economic development, on the one hand, and political opportunity and challenge, on the other. In the U.S., for example, class, race, and gender inequality develop and change in the course of capital accumulation and state making as these engender and respond to cycles of collective action by various class, race, and gender interests that challenge institutionalized inequality in the course of its development. The rise and fall of class, race, and gender inequality between 1776 and 1929 illustrates the potential of this perspective. This exploratory analysis suggests that race and gender were the predominant economic relations and political interests in the Antebellum political economy. After Reconstruction, however, class and gender economic relations and political interests became more prominent as white male capitalist privilege was challenged. |
