Conceptual Framework to Study Peasant Society and Economy

Abstract

There are ample references that Asian peasantry showed militant revolutionary tendencies repeatedly since the early years of Asian revolutions. The ceaseless disturbances and class conflict in various Asian societies occurred only after the end of the Second World War. Without removing colonial and feudalistic remnants, modern history deteriorated into deep fetters.1 In colonies, there existed tendencies such as foreign bourgeoisie class, exploited and alienated proletariats, foreign oriented social ideologies and thoughts; and cultural and academic dependencies. Those situations were the major causes of chaotic situations. This kind of situation was mostly common in the past. Since the ancient times, China held supremacy over East Asia. However, in modern times, Japan became the leader in the East Asian region and the British had political control over South and South East Asia. This situation was far more responsible for penetration of revolutionary ideals among the political activists as well as the peasantry. It has disintegrated traditional social values and order. In fact, incompetent ruling classes or autocratic regimes were no longer to sustain national identity or sovereignty, while oppressed masses, poor peasantry and isolated intellectuals fought against the imperialists and the feudal states. In many cases, movements of oppressed and toiling Asian peasantry started with their economic grievances, but later on those movements developed into the struggle against the feudal state. More importantly, those movements developed into class struggles. The Taiping revolution of China (1851-64) 2 and Gab-O revolution of Korea (1894) 3 are such examples. There occurred many peasant movements in other South Asian countries as well which paralleled those revolutions in terms of the nature of class conflict.