The State, Class and Land Grabbing in Peasant Societies

Abstract

The paper discusses the state, class and land grabbing in peasant societies. This study is a non-statistical research. The source of data collection is secondary. Descriptive data analysis and qualitative research design form part of the research methods. Harvey’s accumulation by dispossession theory forms the theoretical framework. The findings of the paper show that there are three ways peasants are dispossessed of their indigenous and communal land through grabbing. This include first, dispossession inform of inflicting a crisis with over accumulated surplus capital. Second, when government gives the rights to the use of land to the indigenous people (peasants) and the big corporations on the same land in a particular society, knowing fully well that the peasants cannot compete with the big corporations. Third is when the state forcefully acquires the communal land of the indigenous people for the purpose of urbanization projects. The paper argues that peasantry is a class, and as a result, further finding shows that peasantry can be stratified into rich peasants, middle peasant and poor peasants. In another way, peasantry as class can be stratified into rich peasants, middle peasant and poor peasants. The paper recommends among other things adherence to Article IV (1) of the Declaration of Rights of Peasants which states that peasants have the rights to own land, collectively or individually, for their housing and farming. To the extent of this provision, governments of countries should see to its full implementation. The paper concludes that the role of the state is to regulate and shape the social class formations and their relationships in a peasant society.