Compte-rendu des discussions

M. Jollivet explains why he does not want a theoretical discussion of this topic. He proposes that each should approach it from his personal social experience. The group accepts this and a certain number of concrete cases are presented which are then analysed leading to a new formulation of the problem. ; In order to avoid empiricism and the diversity of particular situations, two things are necessary : an analysis of economic relations - both local and global - and an analysis of the strategy of the various groups - their ideology and their awareness of this strategy* Are there one-model societies, or societies without conflicts like some mountain communities ? These have some stratifications, some social strata building up class alliances. Moreover, even if this model existed, its merely being in a capitalist society situates it in a class relationship. Is the demographic criterion an argument for joining forces ? On the contrary the methods by which the farming population decreases expresses the class struggle for they lead to prolétarisation. Factors that tended to make those concerned less class-conscious, an important point in the analysis of the class struggle, tend to disappear. Individual relations tend to maintain individual situations in the social hierarchy and to reinforce the image of the indépendant small producer. But the introduction of capitalist production methods is putting an end to this image. The family too was an obstacle to class-consciousness. The role of head of the family coincided with that of head of the farm business. With the fragmentation of the farming family economic relations have become mere family relations and the head of the family a producer integrated in a political and economic context. In conclusion M. Jollivet proposes two attitudes : - Not to reason by analogy, nor copy the industrial framework. The farming world has its own characteristics. Not to adopt a rigid framework. One tends to think that economic oppositions make up the class struggle, but the class struggle follows the contradictions of capitalism. Social mechanisms work at the vulnerable points and lead to mechanisms of analysis. Each situation should be analysed with flexible concepts.