
Sushil Suresh, author of Australia the Racial Caste System, spares no punches in his critique of the racial hierarchies underpinning Australian society. Far from hailing the country’s multicultural credentials, Suresh lays bare how tokenistic diversity perpetuates existing inequalities rather than addressing them. His analysis, peppered with sharp observations, questions the foundations of Australia’s social and professional fabric.
Suresh dismisses the idea that writing can be a direct agent of change but acknowledges its role in sparking uncomfortable conversations. “It is hard to see my writing making any change. Books and writing are not capable of making any change,” he remarked. “Most writing comes from powerful sections of society and reflects the prestige attached to the spaces that produce these writings, in the form of research, books, media articles, etc.”
Yet, his book does more than critique—it forces readers to confront the uncomfortable truths about multiculturalism. “Racial diversity is an established fact in urban Australia. It is working its way into every aspect of life, and really…it would be hard to argue that any part of society can escape the reality of diversity,” Suresh said. However, he warns that resistance to genuine diversity persists in many forms. “Workplace diversity, or the appearance of diversity, contrary to the claims it makes about its progressive nature, is more a façade that stymies real diversity. It’s a carefully curated diversity that aims to strike a pose while maintaining the status quo.”

For Suresh, the issue of tokenism in Australian institutions is not merely symbolic—it actively undermines the fabric of a truly pluralistic society. “The lack of real diversity in the workforce is a danger to pluralism, as it uses individuals who are not White to promote the illusion of inclusivity,” he argued. “A diverse workforce would be based on a program of not just offering individuals a seat at the table but creating diversity at all levels of an organisation or making a profession responsive to the diversity in society.”
Suresh’s critique extends beyond the workplace to Australia’s political and economic systems. “Why would you have entire bureaucracies, the public sector, or the legal system, or the teacher workforce largely made up of one ethnicity? Where do the taxes or the profits for a bank or private business today come from? Certainly, from the wider ‘multicultural community.’ Why then do we not have this community involved in decision-making in organisations? Surely, this is unethical. One race keeping all the prestigious jobs and positions of society for itself,” he said.
This entrenched exclusion, Suresh argues, is sustained by token gestures that placate rather than empower. “In many arenas of public life, we see mere tokenism, for instance, politicians giving funds to ethnic bodies and other forms of patronage. Really, in some ways, it’s a deadlock. Given the limited number of jobs and the rising levels of migration, I’m not sure what the way out is. I can only see a caste system entrenching itself behind the charade of multiculturalism,” he stated.
His critique is also aimed at how public debates on racism unfold in Australia. “Public discussion on racism is ritualistic, shaped by powerful interests that claim to speak for marginalised communities while promoting their own political goals,” Suresh said. “This means many everyday forms of racism go unchallenged, as they are seen as human nature or beyond questioning.”
At its core, Australia the Racial Caste System argues that racial privilege operates under the guise of meritocracy and colour-blind rhetoric. Suresh challenges readers to look beyond surface-level gestures of inclusion and instead interrogate how racial privilege remains entrenched in Australian society. “We must ask whether segregation isn’t still an organising force in urban and professional life. If race is a fundamental faultline, shouldn’t we question whether we can truly feel safe and equal in schools, workplaces, or even in the suburbs?” he asks.
With a sharp eye for detail and an uncompromising voice, Suresh delivers a sobering perspective on the realities of race in Australia. His book is a rallying cry for Australians to confront the ways in which racial power continues to dictate opportunities, resources, and representation.
Australia the Racial Caste System is available globally on Amazon in paperback and Kindle editions. Order your copy here or Get your copy via Amazon
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📖 Sushil Suresh’s 'Australia the Racial Caste System' critiques tokenistic #diversity, exposing how #racial hierarchies persist under meritocracy. 💡 He challenges Australians to confront entrenched privilege & systemic #inequalities. #TheIndianSunhttps://t.co/DtLMXQ2kjk
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