Agrarian change and peasant studies: changes, continuities and challenges - an introduction

This article may be used for research, teaching and private study purposes. Any substantial or systematic reproduction, redistribution , reselling , loan or sub-licensing, systematic supply or distribution in any form to anyone is expressly forbidden. The publisher does not give any warranty express or implied or make any representation that the contents will be complete or accurate or up to date. The accuracy of any instructions, formulae and drug doses should be independently verified with primary sources. The publisher shall not be liable for any loss, actions, claims, proceedings, demand or costs or damages whatsoever or howsoever caused arising directly or indirectly in connection with or arising out of the use of this material. Agrarian transformations within and across countries have been significantly and dynamically altered during the past few decades compared to previous eras, provoking a variety of reactions from rural poor communities worldwide. The changed and changing agrarian terrain has also influenced recent rethinking in critical inquiry into the nature, scope, pace and direction of agrarian transformations and development. This can be seen in terms of theorising, linking with development policy and politics, and thinking about methodologies. This collection of essays on key perspectives, frameworks and methodologies is an effort to contribute to the larger rethinking. The following paper introduces the collection. Changed and changing agrarian terrain Even though there are fewer people now living and working in the rural world than four decades ago, it still matters a great deal for everyone what happens there. The dynamics of social change in developing countries during the past four decades have some features distinct from those that marked the first three quarters of the twentieth century. A brief overview of changes in the global economy and politics in general, and in the agrarian world in particular, during the past four decades partly illustrates this. Henry Bernstein (2008, 247) offers a summary: While controversy rages, and will continue to do so, concerning the causes, mechanisms and implications, including new contradictions, of changes in the world economy, politics and culture since the 1970s. .. there is little doubt that important shifts with far-reaching ramifications have occurred.. .. A familiar list would include: the deregulation of financial markets; shifts in the production, sourcing and sales strategies and technologies of transnational manufacturing and agribusiness corporations; the massive new possibilities attendant on information technologies, not least for mass communications, and how they are …