Dados Bibliográficos

Resumo

This chapter, originally published in 1961, examines the concept of "closed, corporate peasant communities" in Mesoamerica and Central Java. Wolf argues that these communities, characterized by corporate ownership of land, internal mechanisms of social control, and resistance to external influences, represent a specific response to particular historical and ecological conditions. He compares communities in Mesoamerica, particularly in Mexico and Guatemala, with those in Central Java, highlighting similarities in their social organization and economic strategies despite their geographical distance. Wolf analyzes how these communities maintain their social boundaries and internal cohesion while navigating relationships with broader political and economic systems. He emphasizes the role of ritual and ceremonial life in reinforcing social solidarity and regulating access to resources. The chapter challenges simplistic notions of peasant societies as isolated and unchanging, demonstrating their dynamic engagement with the wider world.

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