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Determinants of Mobilization:

There are many determinants that have helped the peasant mobilization. Some of the determinants are technology, historical conjunctures, ecological circumstances, agrarian structures and relationships. Government policies, caste and community bonds.

1. Technological Development:

Technological advancement has had an effect on the agrarian relations. The introduction of irrigation, seed technology, high yielding varieties, green revolution, introduction of chemical fertilizers in the place of organic fertilizers, introduction of tractors and tillers in the place of bullock carts etc. has helped in the growth of agrarian capitalism in different countries.

In fact industrialization/industrial capitalism in the Western world developed mainly due to the primitive accumulation from agriculture. This is apparent in the former colonial countries like France, England etc. In other words agriculture in the Western countries had undergone the capitalist transformation much earlier than the third world countries like India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Burma, China, and Nigeria etc. In these countries capitalism in agriculture was introduced either during the middle of the colonial rule or at the fag end of the colonialism.

Interestingly in these countries capitalism was introduced from above which is why these countries have not see uniform development taking place. Most of the time agrarian capitalism compromised and co-existed with the pre capitalist social structure. This is the reason why the developmental remained uneven, lopsided and sporadic. However in the Western world which includes Russia, U.S.A., England etc. the capitalism developed from within either by the destruction of feudalism or by the exploitation of the colonies or by the state policy. There are two paths available for the development of agrarian capitalism-American path and Prussian path (or Junker Capitalist path).

The weak agrarian capitalism in the third world has not been able to pose challenges to the Western countries. Nonetheless introduction of agrarian capitalism has given rise to new categories to emerge. In Russia it has given rise to Kulaks, which acted as a reactionary force and also gave spaces to agricultural labourers. In India’s it has given rise to bullock capitalist or gentleman farmers or Maliks.

At the same time it has had other effects too: classes of agricultural labourers have been able to demand more wages, fixing of working hours, medical and maternal facilities etc. In other words agrarian capitalism has increased the bargaining capacity of the agricultural labourers as well as the capitalist peasants both at the grassroot level as well as national and international levels. This is apparent in the demand for the protection by the wine brewing peasants in the European continent in the backdrop of liberalization and integration of European continent in recent years.

2. Historical Conjunctures:

Historical conjunctures like colonial rule, victory of defeat in war, inflation, nationalism, invention of new methods of development have also influenced the mobilization. Even the issues like land reforms, while changing the social relations, have also affected the mobilization process. In China, India, Algeria, Vietnam, etc. colonial rule had the larger bearings; In Japan, Taiwan the land reforms have affected the mobilization. Interestingly increase in the oil prices during the early seventies slowed down the pace of green revolution in different continents including India and Pakistan.

3. Ecological Parameters:

Ecological parameters like cropping pattern, adoption of improved seeds, irrigation pattern also have affected the peasant mobilization. In recent years new cropping pattern that the multi-nationals are introducing in the third world countries have created the fear of loss to the peasants. In third world countries like India the peasants are resisting such seeds as terminator seeds by way of destroying and uprooting the saplings.

4. Agrarian Structures and Communities Role:

Agrarian structures that include land rights, distribution of land, social relations, patterns of tenancy or tenancy rights, control over lands etc. also have bearings on mobilization. These factors have helped in raising issues like tenancy rights, land to the tiller, land reforms, security of tenants etc. This also includes such other issues as abolition of serf-dom or feudalism, slavery and bondedness. These issues are apparent in the mobilization of peasants in different stages of history: In India in 1950-60, England, Russia in early 1900’s, China, Philippines 1946- 52, Germany.

The role of the communities or the caste can also not be ruled out. Although caste is a predominant feature of India, community too has played a dominant role over the years. This shows that peasant mobilization either in India or elsewhere is not an exclusive class phenomenon. In India’s during the British rule castes like Wattars, Jats, Koilis etc. mobilised themselves against the landlords. Even communities like Mopillas, Kunbi and Pattidars etc. mobilised themselves against the issues of feudal oppression, high rents, etc. In other parts of the world communities like Huks in Philippines and Cheapas in Latin America have mobilised on the basis of communities against the state, Governments, land lords etc. Even the Governmental policies like industrialisation, liberalisation, land reforms, bank nationalisation etc. have been viewed as anti-peasant in different places like India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nigeria etc.