State Power, Agrarian Policies and Peasant Welfare

This book identifies and explains the politico-historical forces that underlie agrarian policies in Nigeria. It also examines the impacts of these policies on different social classes and groups, especially the peasantry. The book focuses specifically on the Agricultural Marketing and Commodity Boards in Nigeria from 1945-1985. These boards are examined as state agencies and actions that have direct implications for different classes and groups. The book reveals that the various social classes and groups contested every step of the agrarian policies, right from their agenda setting to actual implementation. Consequently, the contestations affected drastically the policies and outcomes in such a way that the original goals were lost. "I am very impressed with its theoretical scope, command of extant literature and methodological sophistication. Dr. Mou's book should be of immense interest to a broad range of scholars from political theorists, to political economists as well as African area specialists." - Professor Crawford Young, Department of Political Science, University of Wisconsin - Madison, USA. "Dr. Dan Mou...Thanks for contributing to knowledge. Your book is highly expository and full of discoveries... We are proud of you." S.A. Raofu, Chairman, Committee of Deans, AOCOE, Lagos, Nigeria.