The Social Ecology of Rural Violence: Land Scarcity, the Organization of Agricultural Production, and the Presence of the State Export

@article{citeulike:1581296, abstract = {This article develops a conceptual framework to study rural violence by extending the insights of human ecology. Four hypotheses are proposed regarding the effects of land distribution, collective ownership, and the organization of agricultural production on homicide rates. These hypotheses are tested using data from a census of all agricultural production units in a sample of Mexican municipalities. An unequal distribution of land is associated with higher rates of violence. Insecure property rights and the commodification of agricultural production are also conducive to more homicides. A fifth hypothesis is derived from a consideration of the state's role in preventing violent conflict. In remote areas that historically have been far from the reach of the state, individuals are more likely to settle disputes violently. Topographical features are used to measure the accessibility of state institutions.}, author = {Villarreal, Andr\'{e}s}, citeulike-article-id = {1581296}, citeulike-linkout-0 = {http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/resolve?id=doi:10.1086/421724}, journal = {American Journal of Sociology}, keywords = {agriculture, rural, violence}, pages = {313--348}, posted-at = {2007-08-22 06:32:57}, priority = {2}, publisher = {The University of Chicago}, title = {The Social Ecology of Rural Violence: Land Scarcity, the Organization of Agricultural Production, and the Presence of the State}, url = {http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/resolve?id=doi:10.1086/421724}, volume = {110}, year = {2004} }

TY - JOUR ID - citeulike:1581296 L3 - citeulike-article-id:1581296 N2 - This article develops a conceptual framework to study rural violence by extending the insights of human ecology. Four hypotheses are proposed regarding the effects of land distribution, collective ownership, and the organization of agricultural production on homicide rates. These hypotheses are tested using data from a census of all agricultural production units in a sample of Mexican municipalities. An unequal distribution of land is associated with higher rates of violence. Insecure property rights and the commodification of agricultural production are also conducive to more homicides. A fifth hypothesis is derived from a consideration of the state's role in preventing violent conflict. In remote areas that historically have been far from the reach of the state, individuals are more likely to settle disputes violently. Topographical features are used to measure the accessibility of state institutions. JF - American Journal of Sociology EP - 348 TI - The Social Ecology of Rural Violence: Land Scarcity, the Organization of Agricultural Production, and the Presence of the State PB - The University of Chicago VL - 110 SP - 313 KW - agriculture KW - rural KW - violence AU - Villarreal, Andrés PY - 2004/// UR - http://www.journals.uchicago.edu/cgi-bin/resolve?id=doi:10.1086/421724 ER -