Political development and organizational change in a south Indian village

Abstract

The sociological interest in the study presented here is in processes of organizational change as related to the economic order and to existing political arrangements. The study gives a description of the traditional system of caste and a survey of the economy of a rice producing village. It includes an analysis of conflicts between privileged high castes and underprivileged low castes. This situation is analyzed from point of view of the following generel developments: The dwindling of the power of the traditionally privileged groups in whose hands economic and political control had been vested. The economic and political advancement of subordinate castes and the disruption of the "feudal bond” and traditional loyalties. At the same time as traditional relationships of domination-subordination are gradually being replaced by contractual employer-employee relations with implicit bargaining, castes are being organized as action groups to achieve their objectives in either peaceful or violent fashion. Show more