No description available.

This study investigates the sphere of gender relations in rural Rembau, Negeri Sembilan, Malaysia, a state long famous for its 'matriliny'. The central aim of the thesis is to explore the significance of this historically reconstituted 'matriliny' for women's situation, arguing for a re-examination of the clasfc debates ri about 'matriliny'. This re-examination is conducted by an analysis of the complex relationships between economic and political developments in the agrarian economy, kinship relations and gender relations. The thesis first briefly looks at the historical material on Rembau 'matriliny', suggesting that this has been reified both in the literature and in local Rembau discourse. It then explores the interplay between local social forms and the political and economic changes in the wider society, giving detailed material on women's and men's activities and land owning in a situation of a declining village economy and massive out-migration. The following chapters examine aspects of domestic production, class and gender differentiation, kinship relations and practices, household relations, marriage, sexuality and childrearing. The concluding chapter explores the ways that Rembau women's autonomy is being undermined by contemporary developments in the Malaysian economy. The central argument of the thesis stresses the intervention of. capitalist class interests and the colonial state in reconstituting a 'matrilineal' peasantry characterised by non-capitalist relations of production within subsistence and petty commodity producing sectors. Stressing the historical specificities of developments in Malay(si)a, it rejects functionalist theorisations implying a symbiotic rektionship between non-capitalist enclaves and the dominant capitalist sector. The thesis also argues that most previous attempts to characterise the linkages between these sectors and the dominant capitalist sectors in many parts of the Third World have been blind to the significance of gender differentiation within so-called peasant sectors. An attempt is made to show how deconstructing the peasant household and exploring the political significance of women's land ownership and of gender relations overall historically can cast light on past and present developments in Rembau and other Malay peasant society.

No description available.

The research upon which the outputs submitted as part of this thesis are based examines the socio-cultural environment of the Northeast of Scotland, from Aberdeen to Cabrach and from Portsoy to Laurencekirk. In total, five hundred and twenty hours of research data were collected as part of a project that began in 1987. This thesis investigates and visualises aspects of cultural identity representing the historical lifestyles of the "ordinary people" within rural Aberdeenshire circa 1890s-1950s. A unique feature of this research is the use of video as a tool for data gathering and presentation. The key themes are direct observations of the "ordinary people" and the author's rural ancestors. The use of the visual dynamic and the Doric dialect capture the ordinary person's testimony what a "past way of life" was like within Aberdeenshire. The research was initiated as a response to the author's cultural pride in his ancestors. It was not initially envisaged as a formal piece of academic research; the author conducted the research from a simplistic "desire to know". However, through reflective analysis of the research it can clearly demonstrate a rigorous research methodology, which has been replicated within the thesis. The procedures and methods engage with ordinary people in the real world, and help visualise and communicate material heritage. Through the identification of suitable topics, respondent selection, data capture, data analysis, critical review, post-production, archive management and research funding, aspects of the past are sustained. This new data has the potential to be future-proof and is unique in its content. The six topic videos, refereed conference papers, television features, and press articles have captured and sustained irreplaceable data. The research output has been utilised and subjected to critical peer review by diverse user groups locally, nationally and internationally. The work has credible and diverse endorsements and has also been accepted as authentic by the host community, going a long way to developing greater cultural pride. It captures a lost cultural identity in an innovative manner and presents output in a way which is both significant to user groups and also capable of furthering greater knowledge and understanding. This practitioner-based research has the potential to enhance future developments within the field of study through the embracing of modern visual technology in its widest sense.

La présente étude anthropologique est une description d’activités multiples qui résultent de la création (1982) et de l’extension (1999) d’un projet vitivinicole au sein de l’agriculture traditionnelle paysanne du haut-plateau tropical andin, dans le département du Boyacá – Colombie. Habitée par l’une des plus nombreuses communautés rurales du pays, l’économie de cette région a connu un important processus historique de déterritorialisation et son économie a longtemps dépendu des activités d’élevage de petits producteurs installés sur de très petites propriétés. L’histoire de cette région nous enseigne que peu de mesures spécialisées (mises en œuvre en tant que techniques) ont été appliquées à sa production agricole traditionnelle. Il s’agit là d’un élément décisif pour comprendre les conditions actuelles de pauvreté de beaucoup des habitants de la région, en particulier ceux des zones rurales, dans la mesure où, dans l’accès aux ressources végétales, minérales et animales, les techniques utilisées jouent un rôle décisif. Les acteurs principaux, dans ce domaine, ont été surtout des religieux, des politiques ou des militaires. L’émergence d’un acteur social détenteur d’un savoir spécialisé susceptible d’être appliqué à la tradition agricole de cette région par le biais de la création du “Projet vitivinicole de la Valle del Sol et territoires limitrophes”, dans le département du Boyacá, est le centre analytique et scientifique de notre étude. A partir d’une analyse historique, économique et descriptive, nous avons pu déduire que l’évolution technique et technologique dans la région n’avait pas été significative du point de vue de la production agricole. / This anthropological study describes multiple activities initiated through the creation in (1982) and subsequent extension in (1999) of a wine-making project conducted in the high Andean altiplano with a group of farmers of the Department of Boyaca in Colombia. This region has undergone a historical process of deterritorialization. Nowadays, it is the home of a robust peasant population which heavily relies on numerous small properties known as minifundios and micro-minifundios, which are generally farmed by peasant households on hillsides. From this study, it is argued that the application of specialized information (based on specialized methods) to agriculture has been very limited in the region of our study. Therefore, this lack of specialized practices has contributed to the significant level of poverty these communities face, especially the rural dwellers. This is to say, agricultural practices represent a decisive factor for the use of natural resources and cultural development. In the particular case of vegetable and mineral exploitation, this study argues that the current practices have mostly been led by priests, politicians and military authorities. Thus, the need for a science-based approach entwined with cultural traditions of the local peasant communities encouraged the creation of this study called Proyecto vitivinícola del Valle del Sol y territorios afines, and carried out in above mentioned region. From a descriptive and economic standpoint, we claim that there has been a scarce or nonexistent technical and technological agricultural development in the region.

De 1850 à nos jours, l'agriculture et la société rurale dans l'arrondissement de Montreuil-sur-Mer sont en pleine mutation. Les techniques et les structures de production et de commercialisation se modernisent. Les cultures et l'élevage se développent. Le syndicalisme, le mutualisme et le coopératisme apparaissent. Les exploitations sont de plus en plus vastes et les paysans de moins en moins nombreux. L'arrondissement dispose de l'une des associations de défense des intérêts des cultivateurs et de diffusion du progrès les plus puissantes et les plus actives du département : la Société d'agriculture de Montreuil-sur-Mer, fondée en 1821. Cette dernière, dirigée par Octave Corne de 1923 à 1956, atteint véritablement son apogée dans l'entre-deux guerres. Néanmoins, tout au long de la période, le territoire demeure l'un des espaces les moins avancés du Pas-de-Calais. La productivité, notamment céréalière, est l'une des plus faible du département. Les exploitations sont moins bien équipées que dans les région d'Arras et de Béthune. Le retard résulte principalement des conditions naturelles relativement difficiles, de la qualité des sols souvent médiocre et des mentalités particulièrement conservatrices. Des disparités subsistent également à l'échelle cantonale sur le territoire. L'essor des cultures et de l'élevage est plus important dans les cantons du Littoral et du sud de la Canche que dans ceux du nord-est. Les régions de Fruges et d'Hucqueliers sont incontestablement les espaces les plus déshérités de l'arrondissement. / Agriculture and the rural society have been constantly changing in the district of Montreuil-sur-Mer since 1850. The production and marketing techniques and structures haves modernized. Farming and cattle breeding have developed. Unionism, mutualism and cooperation have emerged. Farms have become huger and the numbers of farmers has been decreasing. The district has got one of the most powerful and active organizations in the country. The Agricultural Company of Montreuil-sur-Mer was established in 1821 and has been defending the farmers interests and spreading progress since. It was run b Octave Corne from 1923 to 1956. It reached its climax during the interwar period. However, the territory remained one of the least developed areas of the Straits of Dover throughout those years. Productivity, cereal crops in particular, has been one of the lowest of the Straits of Dover. Farms are less well-equipped than in the Arras and Bethune areas. Backwardness mainly results from the natural conditions which are quite hard, the poor quality of the soil and from a conservative attitude. Disparities remain at a local level as well. The rapid expansion of farming and cattle breeding is far more important in the coast areas and in the south of the Canche than in the north eastern ones. The regions of Fruges and Hucqueliers are indisputably the most deprived of the district.

This thesis is a work of theory; it is also historical. It attempts to provide a critique of the categories through which the phenomena of agricultural development and land reform are habitually grasped. It is divided into three parts. In the first part three main theoretical orientations to the study of capitalist agrarian development are discussed, both abstractly and with reference to their accounts of Latin American rural society in the 1960's. It is argued that all three are unable to explain adequately the process of social and agrarian change. This inability is traced to the fact that all three reduce social totalities to two or more distinct sub-entities or sub-totalities. The author calls this general position the social problematic of dualism. Its inability. to account for social change is, he argues, traceable to the fact that the existence of the sub-entities into which social totalities are divided, is posited as theoretically prior to the relations which connect them. These points are pursued in the second and third parts of the thesis. In the second part an alternative to dualism' with particular reference to its variants of the separation of a realm of industry from a realm of agriculture, and of the separation of a realm of the economic from a realm of the social, is provided through a detailed theorisation of capitalist social relations. It is argued that the existence of distinct realms of agriculture, industry, economy and society is a real effect of the essential relations of capitalist society, and that these divisions must be transcended through an elucidation of the character of such relations. This is done by distinguishing three forms of capitalist development which are produced by these essential relations. Further examples of a dualist analysis in contemporary theorisations of petty commodity production, the world economy and the articulation of modes of production are discussed. In the third part the author returns to an examination of the Latin American context through a discussion of the case of Chile. The theoretical insights developed in the earlier parts are systematically applied to various aspects of Chilean history from the conquest of Latin America to the 1960's, and to the processes of land reform which covered the decade 1962-1973. It is suggested that the agrarian social transformations which this country experienced are only explicable in terms of a position which systematically transcends all dualist assumptions.

Purpose of the following work is to put near not only concrete course of wedding and baptismal ceremonies in provincial environment, it has also show of what role at these ceremonies played their immediate participants ? godfathers and wedding witnesses. Basic characteristic of all the sample recorded persons would be enable to answer questions if within small rural sociality existed its elite part which had fundamental share on its behaviour. The most important origin for research of this theme were church registers which for any single event namely recorded participation of the witness of baptism or marriage, his socio-profession position and geographical origin. Important role then played fact what particular requirements lay then society on men participating thus especial events. It was also explored question to what degree is possible thru godparents and wedding witnesses to peep into mentality and behaviour then rural sociality. Rating socio-vocational submission and place of origin of these persons emerged that the choice of witness of baptism or marriage wasn't casual and underlay to many established habits and rules. Especially at choice of godparents was more than evident that the important factor were to be familiar and well-disposed relationships within closest surroundings of every person. To men witnessing by weddings was distinctive their good property and social background, decisive role at selection of wedding witness also played possibility of representation newly married couple and their families in the eyes of others neighbours. By approach particular persons which postured in roles of witnesses or godparents most frequently was confirmed that also in rural environment subsisted small range of individuals which is possible to characterize as a local top of society. By setting this top of society into the total context allowed to achieve if and to what degree this very narrow group of inhabitants was segregate from the others. In terms of this research was more likely confirmed that the rural man was limited more by geographical than social territory. On the basis of informations about persons participating on baptisms or weddings is possible to assume that the individual parts of society were interconnected through a number of hidden familiar and friendly structures which were fundamental to its behaviour.

The presented thesis originated thanks to the support of the project of Grantová agentura Jihočeské univerzity Nr. 130/2010/H (The society of Czech regions in 17th up to 20th century. The area of economical, social, cultural and religious structure of Czech regions and their transformations during the 17th-20th century). The presented thesis is dealing with, on the example of Třeboň domain, the period transformation of the institute of the rent-charge and the position of retired peasants during the 18th century on the Třeboň domain, specifically in years 1725-1735 and 1775-1785. For the research there were used two from four books of rent-charge?s contracts deposited in the Státní oblastní archiv (public regional archive) in Třeboň. There was chosen the micro historical method of the research as the basic methodological starting point for the analysis of particular cases. Also the exercise of certain lifelong strategies in the family environment in the country has become the subject of the explorational interest. The goal of this thesis was to ascertain, which circumstances influenced the origin of the rent-charge and why it was required. The analysis of chosen lifelong advancements of individual groups leaving for the retirement revealed, that in the person?s behavior in the rent-charge were reflected rooted models of behavior and action, but there was also possible to grasp even the individual strategies. It was possible to draw this conclusion even in the case of the investigation of the content aspect of the rent-charge. The research points out the difference of opportunities, which presented themselves to retired peasants and sustains, that the rent-charge did not mean the end of life, but its partial stage.

This thesis is a work of theory; it is also historical. It attempts to provide a critique of the categories through which the phenomena of agricultural development and land reform are habitually grasped. It is divided into three parts. In the first part three main theoretical orientations to the study of capitalist agrarian development are discussed, both abstractly and with reference to their accounts of Latin American rural society in the 1960's. It is argued that all three are unable to explain adequately the process of social and agrarian change. This inability is traced to the fact that all three reduce social totalities to two or more distinct sub-entities or sub-totalities. The author calls this general position the social problematic of dualism. Its inability. to account for social change is, he argues, traceable to the fact that the existence of the sub-entities into which social totalities are divided, is posited as theoretically prior to the relations which connect them. These points are pursued in the second and third parts of the thesis. In the second part an alternative to dualism' with pärticular reference to its variants of the separation of a realm of' industry from a realm of*agriculture, and of the separation of a realm of the economic from a realm of the social, is provided through a detailed theorisation of capitalist social relations. It is argued that the existence of distinct realms of agriculture, industry, economy and society is a real effect of the essential relations of capitalist society, and that these divisions must be transcended through an elucidation of the character of such relations. This is done by distinguishingi; three forms of capitalist development which are produced by these essential relations. Further examples of a dualist analysis in contemporary theorisations of petty commodity production, the world economy and the articulation of modes of production are discussed. In the third part the author returns to an examination of the Latin American context through a discussion of the case of Chile. The theoretical insights developed in the earlier parts are systematically applied to various aspects of Chilean history from the conquest of Latin America to the 1960's, and to the processes of land reform which covered the decade 1962-1973. It is suggested that the agrarian social transformations which this country experienced are only explicable in terms of a position which systematically transcends all dualist assumptions. / University of Bradford