Postcolonial Developments

Więcej o książce

This definitive study integrates recent critiques of development and postcolonial studies to examine the implications of the postcolonial condition for rural populations in the Third World. Focusing on local agricultural practices in India since the 1960s “green revolution,” the author challenges the binary of “developed” versus “underdeveloped” and critiques the idea of a singular postcolonial experience. This work advances the discourse on modernity in the Third World and proposes a new framework for ethnographic research. Based on fieldwork in Alipur, rural north India, from the early 1980s to the 1990s, the study critiques post–World War II development policies and explores the concept of the “indigenous” in various contexts. It begins by analyzing the interplay between the global food economy, transnational capital, and technological advancements in wheat production. The author also investigates village politics in Alipur, revealing how specific discourses shaped governmental policies regarding the green revolution. By connecting village life to national and global dynamics, the study discusses the ramifications of environmentalism, particularly in light of the Rio Earth Summit, and how global treaties may adversely impact subaltern communities. Through nuanced observations on rural politics, nationalism, gender, and modernization, this innovative work draws from diverse fields, including anthropology, sociology, and poli