Fifty years after the publication of Eric Wolf’s celebrated Peasant Wars of the Twentieth Century, and forty years after the publication of his path-breaking Europe and the People Without History, this book offers a much-needed critical assessment and update of Wolf’s contribution to the study of the peasantry and its relationship to capitalism, the state, and imperialism. This book provides a comprehensive evaluation of Wolf’s premises, methodology, and understanding of the peasantry, and its relationship to the rise of capitalism and the modern state. The authors analyse Wolf’s theoretical approach and, by building on his work in Europe and the People Without History especially, argue their own position concerning the dynamics of the peasantry in relation to capitalism, state, class, and imperialism. Further, the text aims to answer the agrarian question more widely, focusing on agrarian society and the political role of the peasantry in contested transitions to capitalism and to modes beyond capitalism. This requires, the authors argue, an analysis of class struggle and of the resources, material and discursive, that different classes can bring to bear on this struggle. Based on well-founded theoretical premises, the book focuses on the contested rise of capitalism in the global North, the development of core–periphery relations in the global political economy, and the place of the peasantry in these dynamics. The book presents case studies of transitions to agrarian capitalism in the British Isles, France, Germany, Japan, and the USA. The book will be of great interest to students and researchers in the areas of peasant studies, rural politics, agrarian studies, development, and political ecology.

This book utilises a new theoretical approach to understand the dynamics of the peasantry, and peasant resistance, in relation to capitalism, state, class, and imperialism in the global South. In this companion volume to Peasants, Capitalism, and the Work of Eric R. Wolf, the authors further develop their thinking on agrarian transitions to capitalism, the development of imperialism, and the place of the peasantry in these dynamics, with special reference to the global South in an era of politico-ecological crisis. Focusing on the political role of the peasantry in contested transitions to capitalism and to modes of production outside of, and beyond, capitalism, the book contends that an understanding of these dynamics requires an analysis of class struggle and of the resources, material and discursive, that different classes can bring to bear on this struggle. The book focuses on the rise of capitalism in the global South within the context of imperial subordination to the global North, and the place of the peasantry in shaping and resisting these dynamics. The book presents case studies of contested transitions to agrarian capitalism in Bolivia, Ecuador, Guatemala, Mexico, Peru, and South Asia. It also examines the case of transition to a post-capitalist mode of production in Cuba. The book concludes with an assessment of the nature of capitalism and imperialism within the context of the contemporary politico-ecological crisis, and the potential role of the peasantry as agent of emancipatory change towards social and environmental sustainability. This book will be of great interest to students and researchers in the areas of peasant studies, rural politics, agrarian studies, development, and political ecology.

This volume presents insights on the challenges of digital communication and participation in agricultural and rural development. The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed that digital technology and mediated participation is more important and essential in managing ongoing communication for development projects than ever before. However, it has also underscored the various challenges and gaps in knowledge with digital participatory practices, including the further exclusion of marginalized groups and those with limited access to digital technology. The book considers how the concept of participation has been transformed by the realities of the pandemic, reflecting on essential principles and practical considerations of communication for development and social change, particularly in the context of global agriculture and food security, the well-being of rural communities, and evolving environmental challenges, such as climate change. In gathering these insights, this volume highlights lessons for the future of participatory development in communication for development and social change processes. This volume will be of great interest to students and scholars of agricultural and rural development, communication for development, digital communication, and sustainable development more broadly.

With the rapid increase in the global population and changing climatic impacts on agriculture, this book demonstrates how genome editing will be an indispensable technique to overcome ongoing and prospective agricultural challenges. This book examines the role of genome editing in improving crop yields and contributing to global food security. It summarizes a range of genome editing techniques and discusses the roles they can play in producing a new generation of high-yielding, climate-ready crops. This includes site-specific nucleases, precision genome engineering, clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats, and bioinformatics. It showcases how these gene editing techniques can tailor plants to not only increase yield-related traits but to also make them better suited to their environment and to be resistant to pests and extreme climatic events, such as droughts. The book also examines genome editing regulations and policies, the commercialization of genome-edited crops, and biosafety and biosecurity concerns. Overall, this book reveals and showcases how genome editing can improve crop resilience and production to address current and future agricultural challenges and alleviation of global food security concerns. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of agricultural science, crop and plant science, genome editing, sustainable agriculture, biotechnology, and food security.

This book explains and explores how collaborations can be built and strengthened between African universities and farming communities to address real-world contemporary challenges. The book focuses on Community Action Research Platforms, an approach that has successfully enabled African universities to break free of the ivory tower and prove their relevance to society through deep collaborative engagements in targeted agricultural value chains. Developed in a pan-African network of universities (RUFORUM) focused on capacity building in agriculture, the approach has been tested in diverse settings over the last 15 years. The book draws on the experiences and lessons from 21 different projects initiated by RUFORUM member universities in Benin, Botswana, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Namibia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda and Zimbabwe. It highlights a critical yet underutilised role for African universities as collaborators and catalysts for multisector solutions. These are solutions that increase productivity and address climate change. They develop livelihoods and resilience in rural communities, as well as promote farmers’ access to markets, innovation and trade while safeguarding biodiversity and enhancing food and nutrition security. The book makes a case for repositioning African universities as fulcrums of development in society. It shares the rich experiences, learnings and scientific findings of diverse researchers, practitioners and students who have been working towards achieving this reality on the ground. This multidisciplinary book holds appeal for university leaders, higher education, agrifood and development specialists, researchers and practitioners, policymakers and development agencies engaged in African agriculture and rural development, higher education and sustainable growth.

This book examines the role and position of urban agriculture in the spatial and functional structure of cities in the Global South. In the face of dynamic urbanisation and negative consequences of climate change, one of the key challenges is not only how to provide food for the ever-growing urban population but also how to achieve urban sustainability and simultaneously reduce the negative impact of cities on the natural environment. These problems are particularly urgent in the metropolises of the Global South that are experiencing the greatest population growth while struggling with increasing social inequalities and the resulting uneven distribution of resources. Examining the role that urban agriculture can play in addressing these challenges, this book draws on three case study cities: Havana, Singapore and Kigali. The case studies, differing in socio-economic, spatial, political and environmental terms, exemplify diverse characteristics of urban agriculture in different geographical conditions. Drawing on fieldwork conducted in each city, the book also provides a unique perspective on the constraints in the development of urban agriculture and the use of its full potential for urban sustainability. This book will appeal to students and scholars, as well as decision makers, interested in the issues of urban sustainability, food security, spatial development and alternative food systems.

This book explores the rapidly changing seaweed industry in Indonesia, the largest global producer of carrageenan-bearing seaweeds. Seaweed production in Indonesia has grown exponentially over the last twenty years, and rural communities across the country have embraced this new livelihood activity. This book begins with an examination of the global carrageenan seaweed industry, from the global market for carrageenan in processed foods, to the national and regional contexts in Indonesia across which it is farmed, processed, and traded. It then explores the ways that rural communities have reshaped their lives around seaweed production, with chapters on agrarian transformations, negotiations over access to sea space, farmer decision-making in presence of environmental, social and economic constraints, the role of women and casual labourers in the industry, and the marketing of seaweed through social networks. Based on a multi-disciplinary research initiative, this book demonstrates the interrelatedness of environmental, social and economic dynamics on seaweed production, processing and trade, and argues for key policy interventions to support the sustainable development of the industry in the context of climate change. It also provides a lens for understanding and improving the broader processes of sustainable rural development in a rapidly globalising and commercialising world. This book will be of great interest to students and scholars of aquaculture, food systems, agricultural economics, rural studies and sustainable development.

This book provides an introduction to sustainable aquaculture practices, focusing on how we develop social, economic and environmental resilience. Aquaculture has seen phenomenal worldwide growth in the past 50 years, and many people view it as the best solution for the provision of high-quality protein to feed the world's growing population. This new edition has been fully revised and updated to reflect new developments in the field and includes new case studies. Focusing on developing more sustainable aquaculture practices and aquatic food systems, the book provides a toolbox of approaches to support widespread adoption and appropriate adaptation of regenerating aquaculture strategies, ensuring that it has practical relevance for both students and professionals. Drawing on a range of case studies from around the world, the book shows where progress, in terms of developing ecologically sound and socially responsible forms of aquaculture, has been made. The book is based on extensive evidence and knowledge of best practices, with guidance on appropriate adaptation and uptake in a variety of environmental, geographic, socio-economic and political settings. Concentrating on low-impact aquaculture systems and approaches, which have minimal adverse effects on the environment, the book also emphasizes socially responsible and equitable aquaculture development to enhance the natural resource base and livelihoods. Principles of Sustainable Aquaculture is essential reading for students and scholars of aquaculture, fisheries, marine and water resource governance, and sustainable agriculture and sustainable food systems more broadly. It will also be of interest to professionals working in the aquaculture and fisheries industries.

The essays in this collection examine agrarian transformation in Latin America and the role in this of peasants, with particular reference to Bolivia, Peru, Chile, Brazil and Central America. Among the issues covered are the impact of globalization and neo-liberal economic policies.

Medicinal Agroecology: Reviews, Case Studies, and Research Methodologies presents information on applications of ‘green therapies’ in restoration towards global sustainability. These practices connect the world of medicinal plants with ecologic farming practice, creating a compassionate socio-political worldview and heartfelt scientific research towards food sovereignty and a healthier future on planet Earth. The book communicates benefits of using plant-based solutions to manage the challenges of unsustainable practices in human healthcare, veterinary medicine, agriculture, forestry, and water management. The contributions introduce advances around plants and their active components to potentially treat disease, regulate dysfunction, and balance ecosystems. These practices are explored in further depth through three sections: POLICIES AND FRAMEWORKS, INSIGHTS AND OVERVIEWS, and CASE STUDIES AND RESEARCH METHODS. Edited by Immo Norman Fiebrig, Medicinal Agroecology: Reviews, Case Studies, and Research Methodologies appeals to those in various disciplines including agriculture and agroecology, healthcare, environmental sciences, and veterinary medicine. Chapters 3 and 9 of this book are freely available as a downloadable Open Access PDF at http://www.taylorfrancis.com under a Creative Commons [Attribution-Non Commercial-No Derivatives (CC-BY-NC-ND)] 4.0 license.