Peasant movements and their counterforces in South-East Asia

The most striking pre-condition for the occurrence of pea sant movements is the change in the rural status quo in ways that created acute frustration among the peasantry.

Peasant organizations have, without exception, been a reaction to inequalities either in the land tenure situation or the social structure, and particularly to the growth of such inequalities. It was generally a deterioration of a more or less stable and not too unbearable situation for the peasants which set off the initiation of some kind of protest movement, either spontaneous and violent, or well-organized and chan nelled.

In both continents certain, generally economic, develop ments have taken place within the traditional system which undermined its stability and brought some awareness of the need for change to the peasants. In many instances landlords have themselves broken the status quo by altering the prevail ing system. They have tried to extend their estates or plots at the cost of small holders, they have tried to evict tenants.