The End of the Peasantry in Southeast Asia

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xxvi

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2. An Embryonic Peasantry

   • R. E. Elson

   Pages 1-33

3. The Context of Change: Politics, Economics and Demography

   • R. E. Elson

   Pages 35-79

4. The Changing Varieties of Peasant Production

   • R. E. Elson

   Pages 81-121

5. Land and Landholding

   • R. E. Elson

   Pages 123-157

6. A Revolution in Labour

   • R. E. Elson

   Pages 159-184

7. Commerce and Credit

   • R. E. Elson

   Pages 185-212

8. Power and Prosperity

   • R. E. Elson

   Pages 213-238

9. Conclusion

   • R. E. Elson

   Pages 239-241

10. Back Matter

    Pages 242-335

    PDF

This book analyses the changing context and conditions of production and livelihood amongst Southeast Asia's peasants since the beginning of the nineteenth century. It argues that with demographic growth and the nineteenth century development of great global markets based on small-scale production, the size and economic significance of peasantries throughout the region was magnified. However, such changes brought with them new forces - stronger states, more regular legal systems, a revolution in communications, intensive commercialisation - which themselves worked to undermine the foundations of peasant society and, eventually, to transform peasants into farmers, workers and citizens.

• bibliography
• commerce
• communication
• demography
• economic history
• revolution

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