Sociology and Space, No. 99-100, 1988.
Original scientific paper
Peasantry and Politics
Ivan Cifrič
Abstract
The author discusses the theme of
peasantry and politics and
concludes that it has only been
partially analysed. Most
frequently two sets of problems
have been investigated: the relation
between the League of Communists
(previously KPJ) and peasantry,
and the position of peasantry in
agrarian policy. The main reasons
for the marginalization of this
theme lie in the fact that peasantry
disappeared from the historical scene
in Yugoslavia and the changing
attitute of the League of
Comunists towards peasantry, which
lead into a gradual decrease of
society’s interest in this theme.
Under the influence of
industrialization as a historical
process the peasantry lost its
historic legitimacy as a political
factor. On the other hand, the
author sees the disappearance of
the actual political force of
peasantry in ideological reasons
(influence of the ruling party —
KSJ) and the system (socialist
state). It is especially significant
for the position of peasantry that
SKJ has lost interest in this social
group. The author indicates the
interest of KPJ in the pre-war
period and the position peasantry
had in view of the membership
structure of SKJ. Peasantry
should have more influence on
agrarian policy, and generally,
on social policies. The author
found support in this respect in
the peasants’ Trade Union.
Legitimacy of the Trade Union
can be found in their sphere of
work and realization of immediate
interests of the peasant, which
they can not realize either in
territorial self-management (as
a citizen) or by the way of
absolute institutions, which today
play the role of ’would-be’
representatives.
Keywords
Hrčak ID:
121730
URI
Publication date:
12.1.1988.
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