Some Conventional Orthodoxies in the Study of Agrarian Change
- Creators
- Bates, Robert H.
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is critically to review two major approaches to the analysis of agrarian societies and to do so in light of evidence taken from Africa. The first approach posits the existence of "natural" societies; the second, of "peasant" societies. Both approaches attribute psychological and institutional characteristics to these societies. When subject to exogenous shocks of intrusive political and economic forces, these attributes then generate characteristic patterns of change. The existence of such "precapitalist" societies is thus often invoked to account for patterns of change in contemporary rural societies. On the basis of African materials, this paper argues that these approaches are overly cultural. They are overly economist, undervaluing the importance of the state. Many of the so-called precapitalist features of these societies are themselves arguably products of their encounter with agents of capitalism. Moreover, many result from the efforts of states to secure domination and control over rural populations.
Additional Information
Revised. Original dated to December 1982. I wish to thank Eleanor Searle and Philip Hoffman for their contributions to this manuscript. Published as Bates, Robert H. "Some conventional orthodoxies in the study of agrarian change." World Politics 36.2 (1984): 234-254.Attached Files
Submitted - sswp458_-_revised.pdf
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Additional details
- Eprint ID
- 81846
- Resolver ID
- CaltechAUTHORS:20170926-143006088
- Created
-
2017-09-26Created from EPrint's datestamp field
- Updated
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2019-10-03Created from EPrint's last_modified field
- Caltech groups
- Social Science Working Papers
- Series Name
- Social Science Working Paper
- Series Volume or Issue Number
- 458