The theoretical challenges of rurality in the world capitalist transition phase

Abstract

The objective of the article is to analyze the theoretical transformations that have occurred in rural areas in Mexico and Latin America, in the phase of capitalist transition currently underway, in the wake of the hegemonic decline of the United States and the world capitalist crisis that occurred in 2008, as well as the challenges faced by critical thinking in this era of structural changes.

The article is based on the hypothesis according to which during the stages of capitalist transition, such as the one which took place in the 70s and the one which is taking place as of 2003, critical visions to capitalism are predominant, given the weakness of capital and the crises of hegemony; while in the stages in which accumulation regimes are consolidated, conservative visions are imposed to reinforce the status quo.

The paper departs from a structural historical vision to address the link between integrating theoretical concepts and economic and social events that merit interpretation. The analysis began in the 1970s, to address 50 years of Rural Sociology in Latin America, theme of the 10th Congress of the Latin American Association of Rural Sociology (ALASRU), even though it focuses on the years of the recent transition.