Peasants

by Eric R. Wolf

This book explores different approaches to peasant studies; the origins of peasantry; major agricultural adaptations; social organizations; aspects of religion and ideology; peasant movements; the peasant's relation to markets and non-peasant groups; and their problems in the modern world.

Genres: Anthropology, History, Sociology, Economics, Nonfiction

128 pages, Paperback

First published November 15, 1965

About the author

Anthropologist, best known for his studies of peasants, Latin America, and his advocacy of Marxian perspectives within anthropology.

Reviews

[Laya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Tiny but packed classic primer on understanding peasants. The key contribution of Wolf (along with others like Redfield in the time) was to offer a dynamic and plural understanding of the peasants and locating them structurally to processes of change, as opposed to a stable essentialized notion of a 'traditional' isolated peasant(ry). He provides multiple taxonomies (some of which appear slightly dated) on the various economic balances, social negotiations and ideological positions that peasants navigate for their short-term and long-term goals of both subsistence and stability. Through these distinctions, he helps readers understand several questions about peasants that confounded intellectuals around that time. Excellent broad but sharp framework that utilizes principles of Marxist anthropology. It is clear why scholars across the wide range of ideological spectrum within peasant studies all agree that this tiny book was legendary.

Definitely recommending this for anyone interested to get started in understanding the role of peasantry in either economic transformation, social change or political revolutions, especially because it is a recurring but costly blindspot for many marxists and progressive intellectuals.

[Allen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A nice basic primer from the 1960s

[Deli Isle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great analysis, but comes to an odd conclusion. Throughout the book, he points out that objectively the most successful peasantry are those who adopt neotechnics, integrate into the global market, and solidify individual land rights, as by this method they rise out of the peasant class. Yet he comes to the conclusion that Communism, through land seizure and reorganization, is the only way to help the peasants. He brushes over that this completely destroys the peasant's individual right to his land and subjugates them as cogs under a neo-prebendial system, where the bureaucratic official is now their lord. Furthermore, he completely ignores the horrific failures of Communist regimes in their management of agrarian peasantry, which caused the deaths of tens of millions in the Holodomor and the Great Leap Forward. Also, I feel that any discussion of the economics of preindustrial peasantry must include at least some discussion of Malthusian principles, which completely defines the population and wage relationship which is central to peasant living.

[Roberto Yoed · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming from a peasant family, this book is truly a delight.

Not only does it schemes the living of peasants in general and particular terms (and in many places and temporalities), but it also gives the only true solution: a communist party that can lead the peasants to a better society.

Wolf redeems himself with this undeniable classic.

[Alican Berkman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Özellikle Antropoloji ve Sosyoloji öğrencileri için kırsal alan derslerinde çok faydalı olacak bir temel kaynak. Bunun dışında, konuya ilgi duyan ve kırsal hayatın toplumsal, iktisadi, siyasi ve en çok da insani yönlerini anlamak isteyen herkesin okuyabileceği, klasik bir eser.

[Almielag · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting overview of the topic, but a bit too focused on juridical, organizational explanations of the relative wealth and power of different global regions.

[Ken · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is very interesting

[pjr8888 · Rating 4 out of 5]

read at stanford