Rural Livelihoods: Crises and Responses

This book is concerned with the question of how people in developing countries survive, and how their lives have been affected by the great changes since the Second World War. Throughout large parts of the developing world rural livelihoods are in crisis. Even in those parts of the third world where there has been growth of food output, that growth has rarely been translated into a commensurate expansion of livelihoods. Frequently, both economic stagnation and economic growth are translated into suffering for those who live in the countryside. Many people are aware that there is a crisis of livelihoods in sub-Saharan Africa, but the understanding of that crisis rarely transcends simple conceptions of food or environmental crisis or the inadequacy of states: the ubiquity of crisis is rarely comprehended. This book addresses the pressing question of rural poverty. It examines the diverse human implications of rural change, the various crises of rural livelihoods which arise from change, and the survival strategies of individuals and households. It describes the great processes of agrarian transformation which have fundamentally altered rural livelihoods in developing countries and identifies some of the dilemmas for public action which arise from agrarian transformation and the crises of rural livelihoods. The contributors draw upon a range of disciplinary approaches to the subject, including anthropology, sociology, economics, political economy, agricultural science, and development studies.

Table of Contents:
Henry Bernstein: Who are the Rural Poor?; Henry Bernstein: Agrarian Structure and Change; Henry Bernstein Rural Livelihoods: Approaches and Issues; Kate Crehan: Rural Livelihoods and Rural Households; Kate Crehan: Differentiation and Survival: Households through Time; Krishna Bharadwaj: Growth with Hunger in South Asia; Philip Woodhouse: Social and Environmental Change in Sub-Saharan Africa; Mahmood Mamdani: Accumulation, Political Struggle, and Ecological Crisis; Tim Allen: Health; Hazel Johnson: Socialist Experiences of Rural Development; Ben Crow: Actions from Above; Henry Bernstein: Actions from Below

Review :
`I see these 4 brilliant texts as inseparable and will form the background of the BA Human Geography and Environmental Policy: "Developing Societies". ... This OU material is a superb teaching and learning source especially for the "new" universities.' Ian Munt, Senior Lecturer, South Bank University `An excellent all-round introduction; clear, concise and comprehensive. It should prove very useful to any students.' Dr C.J.D. Ewey, University of Leicester `Useful survey of key issues in rural development.' Dr R. Sumit, City University, London 'This is a stylish, well produced book, which blends a substantial text with clarity of presentation. The text is easily readable and well illustrated, which lightens what could otherwise be a heavy tome and brings alive the contents of the book ... will provide stimulating reading for undergraduates, and researchers. I would have no hesitation in recommending this book to all serious students of the politics, economics and applications of rural development studies.' Frank Rennie, Rural Forum, Issue 28/Autumn 1992 `makes existing links with other activities visible ... This book puts rural development in an integrated and realistic perspective ... The boxes are well written and useful to clarify concepts and examples.' Ileia Newsletter, Volume 9, No 1, 1993 'the final section of this four part text is particularly valuable for government officials, NGOs, individuals and development practitioners.' Oxfam `An excellent source book for 1st and 2nd year undergraduates in Development Studies and related fields. I particularly like the pulling together of interdisciplinary themes using valuable case study material.' Alison Evans, University of Sussex `Excellent book which links specific countries/regions to the important social process of contemporary capitalism.' Graham Harrison, N. Staffordshire University `a vivid account of the struggle of rural families to survive in an often hostile world, and required reading for those who see simple solutions to what are clearly immensely complicated issues' The Economic Journal `Well structured ... up-to-date with well integrated theoretical perspectives.' W. Kelly, Worcester College of Higher Education `It is an admirable book both in presentation and for the care that has been spent in making the text readable and stimulating ... This is an excellent text for stimulating student work and further reading on issues relating to people in developing countries. It brings major issues to light in relation to the lives of real people, particularly the poor, and at the same time manages to explain quite complex issues in accessible language.' Journal of Development Studies `One of the few texts dealing with rural development in an interesting and consistent way. The material is well presented and there is a good level of detail.' Dr A. Hall, London School of Economics `...attractively produced book...the authors have done valuable service in introducing the contemporary literature in an accessible way to a student audience; and in producing a text which so firmly counters the persisting myth that rural economies are dominated by 'small farmers'' Development and Change