Peasant societies in the Third World have undergone changes that are often regarded as sweeping and unparalleled; rapid population growth, progressive integration into the market economy and a Green Revolution in agricultural technology. This book is a critical examination of the truth behind these stereotypes. Twenty-one specialists in the field of development studies look at the reality of agrarian change, either through historical analysis, or through in-depth village field-work, or from their experience as development planners. The first four chapters provide the historical context of agrarian change in India, Latin America and pre-industrial Europe. These are followed by eight detailed case studies of the impact of the green Revolution at village level in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh. The book finishes with six analysis of the effectiveness of government policies designed to intervene in the development process in South Asia and in East Africa. The contributors to this book share a commitment to an interdisciplinary approach to the study of development problems.
