The New Peasantries: Struggles for Autonomy and Sustainability in an Era of Empire and Globalization

by Jan Douwe van der Ploeg

This book explores the role and significance of the peasantry in an era of globalization, particularly within the agribusiness and food industries. It argues that the peasant condition is characterized by a struggle for autonomy that finds expression in the creation and development of a self-governed resource base and the associated forms of sustainable development. In this respect the peasant mode of farming fundamentally differs from entrepreneurial and corporate ways of farming. The originality of the book resides in its placing peasants (who number more than 1 billion worldwide) center-stage. The author demonstrates that the peasantries of this world are far from waning. Instead, both industrialized and developing countries are witnessing complex and richly checkered processes of “repeasantization”.

These arguments are based on three longitudinal studies (in Peru, Italy and The Netherlands) that span 30 years and which provide original and thought-provoking insights into rural and agrarian development processes. The book combines and integrates different bodies of literature: the rich traditions of peasant studies, development sociology, rural sociology, neo-institutional economics and the recently emerging debates on Empire.

386 pages, Paperback

First published July 10, 2006

Reviews

[Logan Streondj]

It was okay, but rather dry, talked about repeasantisation in peru and europe. And how empire is an odds with homesteading/peasantness.

Woth archiving I think. as it is one of the better books about the peasantry that is available.