Syedah Mariha
Dr. Michael Webber
SOC 231
October 24, 2023
Bangalore, also known as the Silicon Valley of the East, is the capital city of the state of
Karnataka in India. Bangalore is a socially diversified metropolis with a population of about
10 million people. People from all over India and the world live in the city, and its culture is a
mix of traditional and modern elements. Bangalore is also a significant educational and
scientific hub, with a thriving arts and culture scene. The city became a hub for high-tech
industry, particularly information and communications technology, in the late 20th century,
and several major international technology companies established offices there. Major
domestic companies like Wipro and Infosys also established their headquarters in the city,
making it even more prominent. The ITPB (International Technology Park, Bangalore)
gained notoriety as the Silicon Valley of India, a self-contained city home to hundreds of
software, tech, and telecom firms.
The paper explores Bangalore's transformation over the last twenty years, emphasizing the
city's complex relationship to racial capitalism and globalization. Bangalore's remarkable
transformation from a haven for retired people to a major global IT hub makes it an
interesting case study. This study looks at how the city fits into the global economic, social,
and political environments and how it relates to systems of transformation that are gendered
and racially stratified. In the context of Bangalore's particular trajectory, examine changes in
the city's labor force, economic base, and the effects of globalization on its social fabric,
additionally addressing issues like migration, environmental challenges, cultural conflicts,
and patterns of protest and resistance.
Racial capitalism and globalization have caused a tremendous transformation in Bangalore,
India, in the past two decades. Millions of people now have work because of the city's
emergence as a global center for business process outsourcing (BPO) and information
technology, which has drawn international investment. But this change has not been without
price, with a lot of Bangaloreans having been exploited, gentrified, and forced to relocate.
Bangalore has grown to be a significant hub for global capitalism due to the city's competent
workforce and low labor costs. Global firms have found the city to be an appealing location
for their call centers and huge offices. This has increased economic growth and created jobs,
but it has also made inequality worse.
The rise of upper-caste Hindus in Bangalore's IT sector, who receive preferential access to
jobs and education, is another example of how racial capitalism has contributed to the city's
development. As a result of this, Hindus from lower castes and other underprivileged groups
have been left out and exploited. The city's phenomenal growth has also resulted in
displacement and gentrification. Property values in Bangalore have surged due to the city's
increasing affluence, driving many low-income citizens to relocate to the suburbs.
For instance, BPO employees frequently receive inadequate wages and are required to put in
long hours in settings similar to sweatshops. Women from rural areas make up a large portion
of these laborers, making them particularly susceptible to exploitation. In Bangalore, gender
inequality is a significant issue, as women make up a small portion of the labor force and
frequently receive lower pay than men for performing similar tasks. In addition, women are
more likely to experience harassment and violence at work. For instance, 2018 research in
Bangalore revealed that 80% of women have encountered sexual harassment in public areas.
Bangalore is a significant worldwide center for business process outsourcing (BPO) and
information technology from an economic standpoint. Numerous global firms have their
headquarters in this city, which also boasts one of the biggest IT sectors in the world.
Nevertheless, Bangalore's economy is susceptible to worldwide economic shocks as it also
depends heavily on international investment.
The increased wealth inequalities linked to high-tech expansion have resulted in a highly
fragmented and polarized urban structure in Bangalore. This condition represents a "core
elite's participation in the information-intensive global economy and the masses'
non-participation." Several hundred acres of 'offshore' technology campuses have been
constructed to accommodate corporations like Texas Instruments, IBM, 3-M, and Motorola at
the Electronics City complex. All of these businesses are shielded from the outside world by
power generators, the leasing of special phone lines, and an international work environment.
(Cities in a Globalizing World: UN-Habitat, The Development Context, 12 n.d.)
Hickel talks about how India's economy is growing due to the information technology (IT)
sector. Though the vast majority of Indians still live in poverty, the IT sector is dominated by
a small number of large corporations, and its workers are often paid well. According to
Hickel's analysis, globalization in Bangalore has not been without a price. Being a major hub
for the IT industry has helped the city, but it has also contributed to social issues like
financialization, trade liberalization, and privatization, as well as greater inequality.
Changes in Bangalore’s Economic base:
Bangalore's economy was predominantly centered on agriculture and traditional industries
like textiles and handicrafts before globalization. But during the 1990s, the city developed
into a significant worldwide center for business process outsourcing (BPO) and information
technology. As a result, the economic foundation of the city has significantly changed, with
the IT and BPO industries now contributing significantly to both GDP and employment in the
area.
Labor force:
The labor force in Bangalore has undergone substantial changes as a result of the city's
economy becoming more globalized. Prior to globalization, low-skilled positions in
traditional industries and agriculture employed the majority of Bangalore's workforce. But
because the BPO and IT industries need highly qualified workers, the demand for education
and training has increased. Bangalore today has a sizable and expanding population of highly
educated and competent workers as a result.
Migration in Bangalore
People from all over India have migrated to Bangalore in large numbers in recent decades in
search of employment and educational opportunities. The city's expanding IT and BPO
sectors, together with its growing economy, have been the main drivers of this migration. The
integration of newcomers into Bangalore's social and cultural fabric and the search for
inexpensive accommodation are two issues that they frequently encounter. But they also add
to the city's diversity and play a significant part in its economy.
Global Warming:
Bangalore has seen an increase in water scarcity, temperature increases, and altered weather
patterns as a result of global warming. The city has been forced by these environmental issues
to investigate long-term fixes, including rainwater collection and green projects. Here's where
an intriguing pattern emerges: in response to these climate-related issues, local digital
breakthroughs and entrepreneurs have sprung out, promoting a distinct kind of
technology-driven environmentalism.
Patterns of Protest and Resistance Against Globalization in Bangalore and Cultural
Conflict:
Bangalore's quick development into a major international IT powerhouse has given rise to
cultural tensions there. Tensions over language, culture, and identity have arisen as a result of
the collision between traditional values and cosmopolitan goals. For example, the ongoing
conflict between immigrants who mostly speak English at work and native Kannada speakers
underscores both the cultural gap and the forces of globalization. Additionally, there have
been incidents of racism committed against individuals, frequently by Kannada-speaking
students from other states who are upset about the increasing number of visitors to their
homeland. Cultural issues have arisen in Bangalore as a result of the city's rapid growth as a
significant global IT powerhouse. The clash between traditional beliefs and cosmopolitan
aspirations has resulted in tensions over language, culture, and identity. There have also been
instances of racism against specific people, usually by students from neighboring states who
speak Kannada and are angry about the growing number of people visiting their country.
In conclusion, this paper demonstrates that globalization and racial capitalism have
profoundly transformed Bangalore over the past two decades. The city's growth as a global IT
hub has led to both opportunities and challenges, affecting its economy, labor force, culture,
and environment. The combination of technology and activism is the most intriguing pattern
shown in Bangalore's internationalization. The tech-savvy residents of the city, who are
closely linked to the worldwide IT sector, have made use of social media and digital tools to
organize rallies, vent grievances, and promote change in a number of areas, such as social
justice, environmental sustainability, and labor rights. The way that technology and activism
come together highlights the significant effects of globalization on social movements and
civic participation in urban areas.
Bibliography
● Ritzer, George, and Paul Dean. Globalization: A Basic Text. Google Books, John
Wiley & Sons, 27 Jan. 2015,
books.google.com/books?id=CumNBQAAQBAJ&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&
q&f=false. Accessed 16 Sept. 2023.
● “Cities in a Globalizing World - Global Report on Human Settlements 2001.” UN,
unhabitat.org/cities-in-a-globalizing-world-global-report-on-human-settlements-2001.
Accessed 25 Oct. 2023.
● Hickel, Jason. The Divide Global Inequality from Conquest to Free Markets. W.W.
Norton & Company, 2018.
● June 2019 the Bay Area-Silicon Valley and India,
www.bayareaeconomy.org/files/pdf/TheBayArea-SiliconValleyAndIndiaWeb.pdf.
Accessed 25 Oct. 2023.