ABSTRACT
Chapter 2 begins to unravel the role of the law in the mobilisation of Indians in an illiberal Malaysia by comparing it to other mobilisations. The chapter moves on to outline the different types of minority groups that have mobilised using the law, including ethno-cultural groups, disability and Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Queer (LGBTQ) movements in other countries. The review of various minority mobilisations shows linkages between the perceived social identity of the aggrieved group, the legal categorisation that arises from legal rights, special entitlements and formal classifications, as well as the accumulation of grievances tied to either social prejudice or discriminatory treatment. The chapter then reviews the various theoretical approaches adopted in studying minority mobilisation and the gaps in these studies. Key theoretical areas such as social movement studies, sociolegal studies and legal mobilisation theory are assessed in terms of their suitability in analysing Indian mobilisation in Malaysia. The chapter ends with a detailed layout of the theoretical framework adopted in the book and a brief outline of the main book arguments which are detailed in Chapters 3–5.
