Marginalization and Identity Politics

The book has been undertaken within the framework of some of the theories of marginalization and identity politics. Its widespread occurrence is a consequence of several interrelated factors in socio-economic development. In many Third World societies, people of the lower classes and castes are pushed to the margins of society as a result of various historical and developmental factors. As mainstream development processes created social spaces of inequality, Dalit and tribal communities faced marginalization virtually in every sphere of life. Thereby, the focus of the book is on the extent of marginalization in the specific context of the Adivasis of Kerala and whether it has led to identity politics with a sustainable space for itself in the domain of politics. The book has brought to light the political mobilization of tribals in Kerala with a specific focus on their socio-historical experiences. It would be of great relevance to observe how the tribal movements have introduced a number of tactical and organizational innovations using the power of the media and the expanded circuits of communication, and how they speak to a new audience in a different way with a different voice.