ABSTRACT

This chapter discusses the observation of considerable differences within the peasant world concerning at least three basic elements: work, sex, and violence. Violence in the traditional peasant world is neither a natural instinct nor a means toward the attainment of certain goals, such as change in the basic social and economic situation, but rather the expression of the need to restore the violated order of things. To the traditional peasant, land has value in at least three closely interrelated fields: the economic, the cosmic, and the social. The cosmic and social elements seem to be particularly significant for the understanding of the peasant world. Insofar as the attempts of whole communities of peasants are concerned, history, at least until recently, shows few if any examples of successful revolts. Peasants were usually fearful of larger, and in their view less concrete, entities like parties or national governments and often opposed the introduction of such neutral devices as money or modern medicines.