SOCIAL POLICIES, DEPENDENCY, AND STRUCTURAL RACISM: DISPUTES OVER PUBLIC FUNDS AND THE REPRODUCTION OF INEQUALITIES IN CONTEMPORARY CAPITALISM

Abstract

This article discusses the relationship between social policies, dependent capitalism, financialization, and structural racism in the contemporary Brazilian context. It starts from the understanding that social policies constitute historical achievements of the working class, but remain strained by the demands of capitalist accumulation and the dispute over public funds. Based on Marxist dependency theory, especially the contributions of Ruy Mauro Marini, the super-exploitation of labor is analyzed as a structural element of peripheral economies, directly impacting the financing and universalization of social rights. The text also addresses financialization and the capture of public funds by financial capital, highlighting the effects of neoliberal policies and counter-reforms on Brazilian social security. In parallel, the role of structural racism in the formation of social inequalities is highlighted, emphasizing the historical protagonism of the Black population in the construction of the first forms of social protection in Brazil, frequently made invisible by official narratives. The article also problematizes familism in social policies, demonstrating how the transfer of responsibilities from the State to families, especially to Black and poor women, deepens inequalities of gender, race, and class. Finally, it emphasizes the importance of social struggles and popular movements in defending social security and the universalization of rights, advocating collective strategies to confront neoliberalism, racism, and the super-exploitation of labor.