The paradox of the peasantry in management and organization studies

Purpose Burrell (2020) challenged management and organization studies (MOS) scholars to pay attention a topic they have mostly ignored: the peasantry, those 2 billion people that work in rural primary sector. This paper aims address expand Burrell’s challenge by indicating peasantry offers unique context study paradoxical condition: coexistence of persistent poverty vanguardist innovation. Design/methodology/approach The authors advance conceptual arguments complement reasons why researchers should more peasantry. They argue continuation past research into field laborers, transitioning from feudalism industrial capitalism, still has currency, not just because good listed (enduring relevance phenomenon developing countries; sustainability concerns; acknowledgment common heritage) but also some seemingly archaic practices are evident economically developed countries where most organizations live. Findings show advanced economies, disappeared, it is manifested contradictory forms, as positive force contributing sustainable productivity (in case digitized agriculture) negative legacy social inequality exploitation (as form modern slavery). Originality/value discuss contrasting themes confronting namely, slavery digital farming, propose paradox view may help overcome unnecessary dualisms, which promote exclusion rather than integrated development.