Reluctant Socialists, Rural Entrepreneurs: Class, Culture, And The Polish State

by Carole Nagengast

Overview

PREDOMINANTLY A RURAL NATION, Poland is most often depicted with urban scenes: steelworkers, trade unions, Communist party members, and Solidarity meetings. In contrast to this industrial vision, Reluctant Socialists, Rural Entrepreneurs views historical and recent changes and their agrarian consequences.During her many years in the Polish countryside, Dr. Nagengast has observed,studied, and worked side by side with farmers and other members of the agrarian class. Here she provides a first-hand perspective on the monumental failures of the Polish version of socialism, which were largely due to decisions that led the nation-state down a distinctly capitalist path to agrarian development. On the basis of her extensive research, Nagengast makes chilling forecasts about the impact of the accelerating development of capitalism on the culture, politics, and economy of Poland.This book will be useful to anthropologists, sociologists, and scholars interested in Eastern European and socialist studies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781000309607
Publisher:	Taylor & Francis
Publication date:	06/04/2019
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	239
File size:	4 MB

About the Author

Carole Nagengast

Table of Contents

Preface -- Guide to Polish Pronunciation -- Map of Poland -- 1. Introduction -- 2. Poles Apart -- 3. History, Class, and Identity -- 4. The Production and Reproduction of Differentiation -- 5. You Can't Get There from Here -- 6. Peasants and Farmers in Wola Plawska -- 7. Class Stratification in Wola Plawska -- 8. Who Was in Charge Here? -- 9. Who Is in Control? -- Appendix -- References and Bibliography -- About the Book and Author.

Editorial Reviews

Nagengast, a research anthropologist and chair of Amnesty International, USA, reminds us that Poland is primarily rural and agricultural, despite the urban and industrial images commonly associated with it. Based on her research in the countryside, she discusses how recent historical changes have impacted rural Polish life, and makes some chilling forecasts on the effect capitalism will have. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

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