ABSTRACT
Few studies on Indonesia have examined the structure of village stratification and the implied uneven distribution of political and economic resources as a possible determining factor in explaining differences in large and small farmer responses to the Green Revolution technology. This chapter explores the potential of this perspective as an analytical tool for examining rural development in the Javanese countryside. It provides an analysis of recent events in the Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta and focuses on the interaction between village level political and economic structures. The chapter addresses issues related to the impact of these structures upon existing agricultural development programs, focusing on the activities of the BUUD/KUD, or farmers cooperative organization. The relationship between village government and higher administrative units was also effected by the new organizational setup. The restructuring of local government along more participatory lines involved significant changes in the political character of village society.
