Changes in social capital: a case study of collective rice farming practices in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

Le, Anh Tuan, Cottrell, Alison, and King, David (2014) Changes in social capital: a case study of collective rice farming practices in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Journal of Vietnamese Studies, 9 (2). pp. 68-99.

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Abstract

This paper describes how the social capital of rice farmers of the Mekong Delta of Vietnam, as manifested in the tradition of collective farming practice, has changed. Collective rice farming persisted for decades, irrespective of critical events that challenged its continuation, due to two key factors: the high need for collective farming to ensure subsistence, and the availability of a closely knit social network that facilitated the exchange of labor. Despite its longevity, the practice of collective farming, particularly in terms of labor exchange and mutual aid in farming activities, has not been maintained under current agrarian reforms. Land reform, increased mechanization, and shortened crop cycles leading to labor shortages have all resulted in individualized rice farming, making mobilization for spontaneous collective action at the community level challenging.

Item ID: 39168
Item Type: Article (Research - C1)
ISSN: 1559-3738
Keywords: social capital, ricefarming, collectivework, Mekong, agriculture, agrarianreform
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Published as Le, Anh Tuan, Cottrell, Alison, and King, David (2014) Changes in social capital: a case study of collective rice farming practices in the Mekong Delta, Vietnam. Journal of Vietnamese Studies, 9 (2). pp. 68-99. DOI 10.1525/vs.2014.9.2.68. © 2014 by the Regents of the University of California. Copying and permissions notice: Authorization to copy this content beyond fair use (as specified in Sections 107 and 108 of the U. S. Copyright Law) for internal or personal use, or the internal or personal use of specific clients, is granted by [the Regents of the University of California/on behalf of the Sponsoring Society] for libraries and other users, provided that they are registered with and pay the specified fee via Rightslink® or directly with the Copyright Clearance Center.

Date Deposited: 18 Jun 2015 22:37
FoR Codes: 16 STUDIES IN HUMAN SOCIETY > 1604 Human Geography > 160401 Economic Geography @ 100%
SEO Codes: 82 PLANT PRODUCTION AND PLANT PRIMARY PRODUCTS > 8204 Summer Grains and Oilseeds > 820402 Rice @ 50%
96 ENVIRONMENT > 9604 Control of Pests, Diseases and Exotic Species > 960413 Control of Plant Pests, Diseases and Exotic Species in Farmland, Arable Cropland and Permanent Cropland @ 50%
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