Benedict J. Tria Kerkvliet Boeken

"The Power of Everyday Politics is an authoritative account, based on extensive research in Vietnam's National Archives and in the Red River Delta countryside, of the formation of collective farms in northern Vietnam in the late 1950s, their enlargement during wartime in the 1960s and 1970s, and their collapse in the 1980s. As Benedict J. Tria Kerkvliet shows, the Vietnamese government eventually terminated the system, but not for ideological reasons. Rather, collectivization had become hopelessly compromised and was ultimately destroyed largely by the activities of villagers. Decollectivization began locally among villagers themselves; national policy merely followed."--BOOK JACKET

The book provides an in-depth exploration of the political dynamics within a rice farming village in central Luzon, challenging conventional views that focus solely on factional and patron-client relationships. It reveals a complex landscape of shifting status and class relations as traditional roles evolve into new social identities. This updated edition includes a new preface, postscript, and bibliography, making it a valuable resource for social scientists interested in the intricacies of political life in the developing world.