Rural Communities under Stress: Peasant Farmers and the State in Africa (African Society Today) - Hardcover

Barker, Jonathan

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0521308674 ISBN 13: 9780521308670

Publisher: Cambridge University Press, 1990

Synopsis

First published in 1990, Rural Communities under Stress goes behind the crises of famine and poor agricultural production to examine the forces and pressures that can affect peasant farming communities in sub-Saharan Africa. Drawing on a wide range of case studies by anthropologists, political scientists, sociologists, and economists, the book shows that peasant farmers have ways of defending their interests. Cases from Senegal, Tanzania, Mozambique, Ghana, Kenya, and Uganda are given as concrete examples of ways peasant farming communities cope with the stresses of economic exploitation, political subordination, and demographic and ecological pressure. Even when they are not successful, peasant farmers are far from being passive victims. The book examines in direct and clear language the major arguments about the basic nature of Africa's rural crisis put forward by powerful agencies of international assistance and influential academics.

About this title

Book Description:

This 1990 text goes behind the crises of famine and poor agricultural production to examine the forces and pressures that can affect peasant farming communities in sub-Saharan Africa. Drawing on a wide range of case studies, the book shows that peasant farmers have ways of defending their interests.

From the Back Cover:

African Society Today: Peasant farmers and the state in Africa: Disaster in rural sub-Saharan Africa has become a regular, almost annual event in recent years. In 1985 it was estimated that 10 million Africans left their homes and fields because they were unable to support themselves and that an additional 20 million were reported to be at risk of debilitating hunger.

About this edition

• Publisher: Cambridge University Press
• Publication date: 1990
• ISBN 10: 0521308674
• ISBN 13: 9780521308670
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 238