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VOL. 8, ISSUE 1 (2026)
Theory of sacralised exclusion: A middle-range sociological framework for understanding the symbolic reproduction of inequality
Authors
Dr. Dheeraj Pratap Mitra
Abstract
This paper proposes the Theory of Sacralised Exclusion to explain why
social inequality persists even in contexts marked by constitutional equality,
welfare expansion and democratic participation. Classical and contemporary
sociological approaches have explained inequality through exploitation,
legitimacy, moral consensus or resistance, yet they offer limited insight into
why marginalized groups often endure exclusion without sustained challenge and,
at times, defend it in moral or cultural terms. Drawing on political economy,
interpretive sociology and the sociology of religion, this paper argues that
inequality increasingly survives beyond direct coercion through a symbolic
process in which structurally produced exclusion is reframed as morally
virtuous, spiritually meaningful or culturally legitimate. In this sense,
Sacralization is not treated as a cultural leftover or religious residue but as
an active social mechanism that stabilizes unequal arrangements by making
deprivation livable and socially acceptable. This paper outlines a sequential
mechanism through which exclusion is produced structurally, symbolically
reframed, institutionally legitimized, internalized as moral self-regulation
and reproduced across generations. By locating sacralization at the
intersection of structure and meaning, the theory bridges religion and welfare,
tradition and modern governance showing how moral narratives circulate through
religious institutions, welfare regimes and everyday practices of recognition
without redistribution. As a middle-range theory, Sacralised Exclusion is
applicable across diverse settings including caste-based religious practices,
tribal spiritual identities, urban ascetic communities, gendered care labour
and digitally excluded populations. The paper contributes to inequality studies
by shifting attention from domination and resistance alone to the moral
processes that enable endurance offering a framework for understanding why
inequality remains durable in societies that formally reject it.
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Pages:28-32
How to cite this article:
Dr. Dheeraj Pratap Mitra "Theory of sacralised exclusion: A middle-range sociological framework for understanding the symbolic reproduction of inequality". International Journal of Sociology and Political Science, Vol 8, Issue 1, 2026, Pages 28-32
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