From dependency to reform and back again: The Chilean peasantry during the twentieth century

This article is concerned with the impact of neo-liberal economic theory and resultant policy on peasant farmers in Latin America. In particular, it explores the relationship between agri-business and the peasantry in Chile and traces the evolution of the parcelero sector in response to the forces of globalization over the last 30 years. In order to place recent trends in context, the historical evolution of Chile's peasantry, particularly during the last century, is analysed in some depth. To illustrate the impacts of neo-liberalism, two fieldwork-based case studies in areas (El Paqui and East Curicó) where land reform has taken place and fruit export booms have occurred are presented. Although local transformations are varied, it is contended that the application of a 'free' market policy has increased the dependency of the peasantry, creating disguised, semi- and full proletarianization. The latter process has reversed the various agrarian reforms which took place in the 1960s and 1970s, and returned the Chilean peasantry to the subordinate position it occupied previously. It is argued that the failure of peasant economy is a political effect rather than the outcome of inevitable 'global' economic forces.