(Re)emerging peasantries:A diverse economies approach to agrarian reform in the Philippines

Marni GilbertMaster of Arts in Development Studies

The University of Auckland

DEVNET 2010Massey University

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

What are the current agrarian reform policies, practices and processes in the Philippines?

How is the ‘peasant’ subject being constructed within these debates?

How are these constructions recognizing or ignoring agency?

To what extent can an understanding of the economy as diverse contribute to an understanding of a multiple peasant subject?

FORMS OF PEASANT RESISTANCE

Agrarian Reform as inevitably controversial

Struggles as multidimensional

Strategic choices being made

DIVERSE ECONOMIESNarrative approach to understanding multiple economic subjects

Dissonance between ‘peasant’ subjects

REFLECTIONS ON RESEARCH

Recognizing peasants as strategic actors

Asking who is engaging in diverse economic practices

Responding to challenges for the performance of everyday forms of resistance and diverse economic practices