Full metadata record
| DC Field | Value | Language |
|---|---|---|
| dc.contributor | Department of Applied Social Sciences | en_US |
| dc.creator | Jiang, Hongda | - |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/6265 | - |
| dc.language | English | en_US |
| dc.publisher | Hong Kong Polytechnic University | - |
| dc.rights | All rights reserved | en_US |
| dc.title | Agrarian change in an east Chinese village | en_US |
| dcterms.abstract | This thesis investigates agrarian change in Plough Village which is located in the eastern coast of China. It primarily explores the transformation of relations of production in the village since the market reform in the late 1970s. In the thesis, I focus on two issues: the change in peasant-land relationships and the development of social differentiation and class relations. The opening chapter sets the scene of the thesis. It begins with an introduction to the macro politico-economic situations confronting Chinese peasantry today and suggests that with the development of capitalism, relations of production in the countryside have changed and exerted significant impact on rural people's livelihood. It then further reviews studies on agrarian political economy from classical theories to contemporary researches and, on that basis, constructs the theoretical and methodological framework for my own study. The second chapter gives a general description of Plough Village. It briefly introduces geographical, climate and socio-economic conditions in the village. The third chapter is one of the two major chapters of the thesis. It discusses the transformation of human-land relations in the village. By reviewing rural constructions in the collective era, it argues that Plough Villagers established a relatively harmonious relationship with their land on the basis of collective economy in which the soil fertility was maintained and soil quality improved. However, with the rise of de facto private ownership of land and commodity relations initiated by the rural reform, this virtuous relationship has been gradually undermined. Erosion of traditional farming skills, capital intensification of agricultural production and especially the development of commercial agriculture combine to destroy the land vitality. This chapter concludes that after three decades' evolution a new, exploitative relationship between Plough Villagers and their land has been established and, thus, plundering of soil fertility becomes increasingly common. The other major chapter examines the process of social differentiation in the village. It argues that the development of capitalist employment creates a class differentiation in the village. The once equalitarian village basing on the peasant-household economy, as indicated in this chapter, has divided into four groups of people (classes): marginalized peasants, impoverished peasants, moderate peasants and rich peasants. The exploitative economic relations have become the major bonds of different groups of people in the village. Due to the development of employment and commodity relations in the countryside, Plough Village has been incorporated into the whole capitalist economy in China. The final chapter concludes that the above two issues are not isolated but rather interdependent and subject to the same dynamics of capitalist production. | en_US |
| dcterms.extent | iii, 155 p. ; 30 cm. | en_US |
| dcterms.isPartOf | PolyU Electronic Theses | en_US |
| dcterms.issued | 2011 | en_US |
| dcterms.educationalLevel | All Master | en_US |
| dcterms.educationalLevel | M.Phil. | en_US |
| dcterms.LCSH | Agriculture -- Economic aspects. | en_US |
| dcterms.LCSH | Agriculture -- Social aspects. | en_US |
| dcterms.LCSH | Hong Kong Polytechnic University -- Dissertations | en_US |
| dcterms.accessRights | open access | en_US |
Files in This Item:
| File | Description | Size | Format | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| b24624950.pdf | For All Users | 1.88 MB | Adobe PDF | View/Open |
Copyright Undertaking
As a bona fide Library user, I declare that:
- I will abide by the rules and legal ordinances governing copyright regarding the use of the Database.
- I will use the Database for the purpose of my research or private study only and not for circulation or further reproduction or any other purpose.
- I agree to indemnify and hold the University harmless from and against any loss, damage, cost, liability or expenses arising from copyright infringement or unauthorized usage.
By downloading any item(s) listed above, you acknowledge that you have read and understood the copyright undertaking as stated above, and agree to be bound by all of its terms.
Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item:
https://theses.lib.polyu.edu.hk/handle/200/6265