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Agrarian Populism in Colonial and Postcolonial Malawi

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 October 2013

Erik Green
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Abstract:

This article analyses continuity and change of the agrarian doctrine in colonial and postcolonial Malawi. It engages in a classic debate about images and polices concerning African farming. The article argues that the agrarian doctrine must be related to the broader notion of agrarian populism, more specifically to Chayanov's notion of the logic of the peasant family farm. Employing this broader approach allows a striking continuity of the agrarian doctrine to be revealed. Calls for changes of local institutions did not signify attempts to promote rural transformation, but contained strategies to increase the economic independence of the precapitalist family farm.

Résumé:

Résumé:

Cet article analyse les phénomènes de continuité et de changement dans la doctrine agraire au Malawi colonial et postcolonial. Cet article engage également un débat classique sur les images et réglementations liées a l'agriculture en Afrique, et soutient la thèse que la doctrine agraire doit être reliée à la notion plus large de populisme agraire, plus spécifiquement à la logique de Chayanov concernant la ferme familiale paysanne. L'emploi de cette approche plus générate permet de découvrir d'une continuité remarquable dans la doctrine agraire. Les appels aux changements des institutions locales n'indiquaient pas des tentatives de promotion d'une transformation rurale, mais elles contenaient des stratégies pour augmenter l'indépendance économique de la ferme familiale pré-capitaliste.

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Articles
Information
African Studies Review , Volume 54 , Issue 3 , December 2011 , pp. 143 - 164
Copyright
Copyright © African Studies Association 2011

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