Corruption Plots: Stories, Ethics, and Publics of the Late Capitalist City

Corruption Plots explores how corruption is a fundamental aspect of global storytelling in late capitalism, particularly in the millennial city of the global South. The book examines the racial, caste, class, and gender locations of narrators, spaces, and publics imagined to be harmed by corruption and how corruption talk is used to make sense of unequal spatial change.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 294 pages
Publication date: 15 April 2023
Publisher: Cornell University Press

Corruption is a pervasive issue that permeates global storytelling, particularly in the context of late capitalism. In the millennial city of the global South, allegations of corruption evoke widespread outrage, particularly in light of the deepening economic polarization. Drawing on ethnography conducted in Bengaluru and Mumbai, as well as a diverse range of literary and cinematic narratives from cities around the world, Malini Ranganathan, David L. Pike, and Sapana Doshi examine the intricate connections between corruption, race, caste, class, and gender.

Corruption Plots sheds light on how corruption is fundamental to understanding the abuse of power by states and elites in the late capitalist era. The authors analyze the racial, caste, class, and gender locations of the narrators, spaces, and publics imagined to be harmed by corruption. They pay close attention to the ethical, spatial, and political stakes of storytelling and argue that it is essential to examine the corruption plot in all its contradictions.

The book offers a comprehensive analysis of urban worlds, revealing the ways in which corruption is used to justify unequal spatial change and exploited by those who are themselves implicated in wrongdoing. The authors argue that storytelling is a powerful tool for shaping public perception and that it is crucial to examine the ways in which corruption narratives are constructed and perpetuated.

Corruption Plots highlights the ethical and political dimensions of corruption, emphasizing the need for accountability and transparency in all aspects of society. The book provides valuable insights into the complex relationships between power, corruption, and social inequality and offers a roadmap for addressing these issues in the future.

Weight: 450g
Dimension: 152 x 228 x 20 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781501768750