Description
The Handbook presents critical analyses of, and examines controversies about, historical and contemporary social structures and processes in agrarian and rural settings from a wide range of perspectives. Chapters explore the origins of critical agrarian studies, the concepts underpinning the diverse theoretical approaches to the field, and the strengths and weaknesses of different methodologies used within the field. Finally, it illuminates debates around the topic and trajectories for future research and development.
This will be a vital resource for graduate students, scholars and activists interested in critical agrarian studies. The analytical and empirical insights will also be helpful to students of environmental and development studies as well as agricultural and development economics, human geography and socio-cultural anthropology.
About the Author
Edited by A. Haroon Akram-Lodhi, Department of International Development Studies, Trent University, Canada, Kristina Dietz, Institut fur Internationale Entwicklung Universitat Wien, Austria, Bettina Engels, Otto Suhr Institute of Political Science, Department of Political and Social Sciences, Freie Universitat Berlin, Germany and Ben M. McKay, Department of Anthropology and Archaeology, University of Calgary, Canada
Reviews
'This impressive Handbook captures and reflects the vibrancy of, and will propel further, the rapidly expanding field of critical agrarian studies. It is an indispensable reference in the field for students, teachers, researchers, policy experts, and activists.' -- Saturnino M. Borras Jr., International Institute of Social Studies, the Netherlands and Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of Peasant Studies
'The Handbook of Critical Agrarian Studies is a magnificent field-building achievement. Ambitious and comprehensive, it marks the coming of age of critical agrarian studies, with first-rate contributions from foundational thinkers and emerging stars on everything from agroecology and land, to financialization, territoriality, extractivism, migrant labour, and dozens of other topics.' -- Marc Edelman, Hunter College and The Graduate Center, City University of New York
'Critical agrarian studies is not a sentimental journey into the past but ways of rethinking how the dynamics of agrarian change reflect and shape some of the most important issues of our time. In these creative and thoughtful short chapters, leading scholars provide new angles on familiar questions such as land ownership, the ways we eat, agrarian extractivism, ecological crisis and rural social movements and on many new issues as well. Authors also lead readers through current debates and introduce them to the particular methodological problems of agrarian studies.' -- Bridget O'Laughlin, International Institute of Social Studies, the Netherlands and Co-Editor of the Journal of Agrarian Change
'The Handbook of Critical Agrarian Studies is an excellent and solid work that takes us through the foundational and current debates of this research field, its main concepts and methodological approaches, the intersection of the agrarian question with environmental, territorial, techno-science and financialization issues, among other topics. An essential reference book.' -- Carla Gras, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Cientificas y Tecnicas, Argentina
'This Handbook will surely become the point of departure for anyone planning research on agrarian issues from a critical perspective. The 72 contributions - most by well-regarded experts in the field-provide both succinct literature reviews and substantive insight on a broad range of relevant topics. Some of the chapters, such as on The Agrarian Question, Land Grabs, and Feasible Utopias are superb. Whether for clarification of key concepts or to grasp the contours of current debates, the Handbook will be useful to students, researchers, those teaching in the field, as well as policy advocates and activists.' -- Carmen Diana Deere, University of Florida, US
Book Information
ISBN 9781035318889
Author A. H. Akram-Lodhi
Format Paperback
Page Count 744
Imprint Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd
Publisher Edward Elgar Publishing Ltd