Dominance and Mobilisation: Rural Politics in Western Uttar Pradesh, 1930-1980

by Zoya Hasan

Dominance and Mobilisation examines changes in agrarian organization and their impact on politics in the western state of Uttar Pradesh. The author discusses the structure and issues of party politics and locates them in the larger context of Uttar Pradesh society, and more specifically, in relation to the interests of certain castes and classes in the Aligarh district. Though concerned with the entire spectrum of rural society, much greater attention is focused on political action from above. Hasan describes the emergence and consolidation of a wealthy peasantry and its strategies for mobilization. The consolidation of wealthy and middle-class peasants was a development which had far-reaching implications for the political and economic processes of Uttar Pradesh. Hasan reveals that the overlap of caste and class in evidence at the upper levels of society has in fact perpetuated traditional structures of domination. The author argues that this is largely due to the fact that the underlying caste and community dynamics of the State have enabled ruling class parties to exploit these dynamics to their advantage. This book will be of particular interest to students and professionals in development studies, politics, sociology, political sociology, anthropology, and history.

196 pages, Hardcover

First published April 1, 1989