Publication Date

12-23-1975

Abstract

What people owe one another can affect their relationships. This notion is extended into the credit relations between social classes, and the nature of their credit transactions. Thus, in the society of peasants and elites under consideration, the question being answered is, "What are the lines of credit, and what are the social implications of these arrangements?" The locale of this investigation was the municipio of São Caetano in the state of Pernambuco in Northeast Brazil. This is located within the semi-arid Agreste region, a transitional zone between the abundantly-watered coast and the parched backlands of Northeast Brazil. The study focuses in turn on the productive, distributive, and consumer phases of the agricultural economy. The data on which these analyses are based were assembled through the use of various techniques, such as participant observation, formal questionnaires, historical research, and passive observation. In the area of production, the small peasant farmer is a debtor to the rancher for land and to the money lender for cash. Loans for land of any value carry heavy costs for the cultivator in terms of labor, crops, or money. Similarly, cash loans from people of means are negotiated at usurious terms. A more equitable arrangement of credit exists in the form of bank loans, which are negotiated directly through the banks or through agencies representing banks, such as cooperatives. But, in effect, it is generally the more affluent ranchers who can utilize these sources while the peasants rarely are in a position to do so. This is owing to the lack of fiscal accountability in the peasant's cognitive world, as well as his lack of collateral. Similarly in the distributive phase of the local economy it is the peasant who is debtor to the supplier and money lender for the goods and money needed to support his small trading operations at the market place. As a consumer it is this small cultivator who is encouraged to run up a debt at the local store. Even with these costs he feels obligated to give money and food to beggars in a far greater proportion than do his elite counterparts. Moreover he contributes to a greater amount of state and local taxes relating to business than do his elite creditors. The total picture that emerges is that of more wealthy creditors defining terms of a relationship with their poor debtors. Those of means control these relations so as to perpetuate the social class system. This situation is somewhat intensified by the periodic occurrence of droughts and dry spells. No social system is so static that it does not warrant a discussion of alternatives. In this case, five alternatives to the present system are treated. At the present time the most viable is that of peasant out-migration to more prosperous and frontier areas. The increased use of agricultural inputs also helps those who remain to gain some security. The likelihood of social revolution is discussed in light of the movement to mobilize peasants in the decade of the 60s. It is concluded that owing to national suppressive tendencies and incomplete peasant awareness of deprivation, revolution is improbable at present. The present total outlook for these alternatives is that at best they will make life more secure for the peasant without changing his position within the social system.

Document Type

Dissertation

Language

English

Degree Name

Anthropology

Level of Degree

Doctoral

Department Name

Anthropology

First Committee Member (Chair)

Karl H. Schwerin

Second Committee Member

Edwin Lieuwen

Third Committee Member

Philip K. Boch

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