Colonialism, Capitalism, and Racism: How Ijan Breman Uncovers the Triangle That Built Modern Inequality

In a searing synthesis of history, economics, and racial critique, Ijan Breman dissects the interwoven forces of colonialism, capitalism, and racism—revealing how their convergence forged enduring structures of global inequality. Breman argues that these pillars did not evolve independently but were co-constructed, each fueling the others to produce systems of exploitation that persist in modern economic and social frameworks. From the forced labor of empires to the extractive logics of global capital, Breman’s analysis exposes a violent lineage of oppression that continues to shape who benefits—and who suffers—in today’s world.

Colonialism was not merely a political conquest; it was the laboratory for modern capitalism’s most ruthless economic model. Under colonial rule, European powers established racial hierarchies to justify and enforce the subjugation of indigenous populations and enslaved peoples. As Breman emphasizes, “Colonialism was systematic capitalism in territorial form—where race became the currency of exploitation.” The transatlantic slave trade, for instance, was not just a moral atrocity but a foundational economic engine that generated immense wealth for colonial metropoles while decimating African societies and economies.

Enslaved Africans were treated as variable capital—here today, gone tomorrow—fed into plantations that fed global markets. This racial capitalist system embedded itself deeply into economic DNA: - Plantation economies in the Caribbean and Americas generated profit through coerced labor, with racial classification determining access to wages, land, and legal rights. - Colonial administrations legislated racial segregation to maintain control, enforcing spatial and economic exclusion that concentrated wealth among colonizers while impoverishing colonized communities.

- Legal and financial institutions—such as companies and banks—were designed to extract resources and profits, with racism legitimizing unequal land distribution and labor exploitation. This era forged enduring inequalities: a global South impoverished by resource extraction and a global North enriched by colonial abundance. Capitalism’s Evolution: From Colonies to Global Finance Breman shows how colonialism’s exploitative infrastructure did not end with independence—it evolved.

Post-independence, multinational corporations and international financial institutions inherited and repurposed colonial patterns, embedding racialized capitalism into the fabric of globalization. Multinational firms, often led by former colonial powers, continued resource extraction in former colonies, extracting wealth while paying minimal local value. Key mechanisms include: - **Extractive industries**: Mining and agriculture in African and Latin American countries remain dominated by foreign capital, with profits repatriated abroad rather than reinvested locally.

- **Debt and structural adjustment**: International financial institutions impose loan conditions that force developing nations to prioritize export-oriented growth and deregulation—mirroring colonial resource-dependency. - **Financial globalization**: Rating agencies and investment flows maintain unequal valuations, reinforcing the economic marginalization of post-colonial states. Multinational corporations, often operating in legal gray zones, exploit weak labor markets and racialized labor hierarchies to minimize costs—reviving colonial labor practices in digital form through precarious gig economies and informal sector exploitation.

Racism as the Enforcer and Justifier Central to Breman’s analysis is racism’s dual role: as a tool of oppression and a rationalization of economic injustice. Colonial powers crafted racial ideologies—framing non-European peoples as inferior, “uncivilized,” or naturally suited to servitude—thereby justifying exploitation and muting resistance. Modern capitalism relies on these same narratives, subtly normalized through media, education, and public discourse: - Racial stereotypes shape hiring practices, wage gaps, and access to credit.

- Immigration policies often reflect colonial-era hierarchies, with migrant workers from the Global South facing systemic exclusion. - The criminalization of Black and Brown communities mirrors historical patterns of social control, enabling surveillance, incarceration, and disenfranchisement to sustain a compliant labor force. Breman insists, “Racism isn’t a side effect of capitalism—it’s embedded in its core.” The construction of race as a hierarchy enabled the systematic devaluation of non-white lives, making exploitation both profitable and acceptable.

Enduring Legacies and Counterpaths Breman’s work is not merely diagnostic—it calls for reckoning. The legacy of colonialism, capitalism’s extractive logic, and institutional racism demands structural transformation, not superficial reforms. True justice requires: - Reparations that acknowledge historical debt and redirect resources to affected communities.

- Economic democratization, empowering local ownership and sustainable models in post-colonial regions. - Dismantling embedded racism in financial, legal, and corporate systems through transparent governance and inclusive policy. The forces Breman exposes are not relics of the past—they shape today’s global economy, racial disparities, and climate injustice.

Recognizing their interconnectedness is the first step toward dismantling systems of inequality and forging equitable futures. The convergence of colonialism, capitalism, and racism is not an accident of history—it is an engineered reality, its roots deep and its roots still bleeding into the present. Ijan Breman’s rigorous analysis offers more than critique; it provides a blueprint for understanding and dismantling one of the most enduring structures of global oppression.

In a world still grappling with inequality, Breman’s synthesis reminds us: progress cannot occur without confronting the interconnected past that built the present.