How does racism stay alive?

Racism continues to live because it is more than a mere individualist moral failure, or a right-wing ideation. It is a systemic ideology which nourishes European liberal democracies. The French activist, anticolonial militant and writer Houria Bouteldja explains the theory of the integral racialised state, joined by journalist Annalisa Camilli at the Santa Maria della Vittoria Chapel, Mantova.

The integral state comprises not only its institutions, but also its rich bourgeoisie, its classe ouvriere and civil society. In the integral racialised state, every one of these groups has concluded a joint agreement on race: while class conflicts may occur between them, non-white subjects will always be ostracised from their society.

The “racial” nature of the State is founded on historical precedents, as European Union nations developed only through exploitation and genocides in their colonies. After decolonisation, colonial ties remained, and with those the conviction of superiority within Europe’s white society.

Therefore, les beaufs, the white proletariat, are more likely to welcome their direct oppressors, their employers, rather than defend les barbares, a derogatory term for the children of the diaspora of colonised nations. In reality, les beaufs’ antagonism prevents them true freedom; as long as the working class marginalises its non-black components, it will never gather enough power to successfully exit the cage of exploitation created by capitalism.

Dismantling racism can be envisaged only by acknowledging its part in the grand scheme of capitalism. It will survive as long as the discussion on race ends with the individual. It is an imperative that it doesn’t.