Revolution and Its Alternatives

Tom Brass, D.Phil. (1982), formerly lectured in the Social and Political Sciences Faculty at Cambridge University and directed studies for Queens' College. He edited The Journal of Peasant Studies for almost two decades, and has published extensively on agrarian issues and rural labour relations.

• Table of Contents Acknowledgements Introduction: The Best of Times, the Worst of Times?1 The Vanishing 2 The Banishment 3 Making a Difference? 4 The Shrewd Scholar? 5 Something They Have Forgotten? 6 Themes Part 1: Revolutionary/Counter-revolutionary Practice/Theory 1 Revolution in Practice1 Introduction: Revolution, or Reform (and Counter-revolution) 2 Educate them to Revolt 3 The Greatest of All Proprietors 4 Desperation and Vengeance 5 As the Part to the Whole 6 Conclusion 2 Revolution in Theory 1 Revolution and/as Modernity 2 To the Barricades? 3 Half the Voters Plus One? 4 Confused Chatter and Legislative Obstruction 5 Modernity and/as Bourgeois Democracy 6 Conclusion 3 Refusing Revolution, Empowering Counter-Revolution 1 Introduction: To the Barricades? 2 What History Taught Us 3 The Nation's Great Concerns 4 The Balance of Class Power? 5 To the Barricades 6 The World We/(They) Have Lost 7 A (Marxist) Warning from History 8 Conclusion Part 2: Other Marxisms, Other Priorities/Identities 4 The (Revolutionary) Path Not Taken1 Introduction: Promoting Capitalism, Not Socialism 2 Laissez-faire Discourse-for 3 In the Footsteps of Laissez-faire4 Capitalism - or Socialism? 5 The Path Not Taken 6 Conclusion 5 Avoiding Revolution: A Return to Patronage1 Introduction: From Periphery to the (Academic) Core 2 Empiricism, Patronage and Subsistence 3 Personal Tie of Affection? 4 Two Concepts, or One? 5 A Caring State... 6 ...or Permanent Revolution 7 Conclusion 6 Misunderstanding Revolution: (Re-) Defining Coercion? 1 Introduction: A Necessary Journey? 2 The Debate 3 The Debate Transcended? 4 Problems with Theory 5 Butterfly Collecting 6 Conclusion 7 Other Priorities, Other Identities: Unmasking the Subaltern1 Introduction: (Armchair) Generals Go to War 2 Subaltern Conquests 3 Nationalist Appropriation I: Cambridge and England 4 Nationalist Appropriation II: Delhi and India 5 Critique of a Critique 6 Difference and Sameness 7 &'A reiteration of the already said' 8 Conclusion Part 3: Alternatives to Revolution? 8 Betraying Revolution (Again)1 Introduction: Revolutionary Socialism as the Fifth Horseman 2 Peasants, Left and Right 3 A Plan of Campaign? 4 Power Wanting, But Wanting Power? 5 Resistance, Not Revolution 6 Conclusion 9 Viva la Revolución? Eric Hobsbawm on Peasants1 Introduction: A Time There Was … 2 Big in Brazil 3 Hobsbawm and Feudalism 4 Hobsbawm and the hacienda System 5 Hobsbawm and Capitalism 6 Hobsbawm and Marxism 7 Outside Latin America 8 Conclusion 10 Marxism, or Postmodern Precursor? John Berger on Peasants1 Introduction: Holy Humble Peasants? 2 No Country for Old Peasants 3 Migrants, Gender, Money 4 Different Stories, Same Themes 5 Looking, But Seeing? 6 Too Much History, Too Many Lives 7 Conclusion Conclusion BibliographyAuthor IndexSubject Index