Sociology and Space, No. 75-76, 1982.
Original scientific paper
A Contribution to Terminological Changes in Basic Agrarian
Draško Dobronić
Abstract
After World War II the position of
farmers and other citizens in
Yugoslavia in relation to
agricultural land was regulated six
times: by the land reform, by
regulations concerning socially
owned agricultural land, by the
Constitution and Constitutional
Amendments, and by some other
regulations. All of them cite the
principle: »the land to those who
work it«. The author shows how
that principle was put into effect
analysing terminological and
contextual changes of the terms:
landowner — peasant — farmer;
his holding; household; family,
extended family; working people
engaged in farming; landowners
whose main occupation is not
farming; workers, migrant workers
and emigrees; groups of workers
and employees of various firms and
institutions; other citizens; the land
maximum and the right of
ownership of cultivalbe agricultural
land.
The basic agrarian terms were
contextually established only twice:
in 1945—47 (land reform and the
founding of the social sector in
agriculture), and in 1953 (the second
land reform and the extension of
the social sector of agriculture). The
Regulation Commission repeats the
main lines of the stand taken in
1953. During the last 30 years,
however, general socio-economic
conditions have changed basically.
There is a certain inner
contradiction in the basic agrarian
regulations: they value work, but
also tend to limit private ownership.
This inner contradiction has always
been reflected in the whole agrarian
policy. One tendency supports an
increase in production, income and
productivity, and the other a change
of relations and the structure of
land ownership.
Existing legislation is not
terminologically contextually
consistent in defining basic agrarian
concepts. The Socialist Republic of
Croatia has in most cases applied
federal regulations concerning the
land maximum restrictively. The
Associated Labour Act tries to
overcome this position of ownership
by the concept of associating land,
work and means of work, and
dividing the income thus made.
This association is, however, taking
place slowly and with difficulty,
and there is very little research
that indicates the reasons for such
slow associations.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
119610
URI
Publication date:
15.6.1982.
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