Suchergebnisse

It is possible to draw upon Marx's thinking without emphasizing an automatic relationship between an economic 'base' and a political 'superstructure'. The development of capitalism must then be understood as resulting from the 'conceptual separation' of the economic and political issues. However, the research that favours this approach fails to provide the tools for a precise and systematic study of the political work which makes this separation possible. For his part, through the development of field theory and the emphasis on the notion of symbolic power, Pierre Bourdieu offers the means to analyse the political work of multiple agents, but he does not formulate a theory of capitalism tailored to his findings. It seems worthwhile to take up and extend some of his proposals to open up avenues of thought in this direction. It is then about considering that different fields coexist, each of which lends itself to a political struggle based on the assertion of symbolic power; each field contributes to a 'conceptual separation' of the economic and political issues, which is itself constitutive of capitalism. As a result, production and trade operations seem to be part of a natural and autonomous process. Capital can thus be accumulated without necessitating the direct use of force. The combination of fields can lend itself to certain variations. It always shapes the political structures of accumulation.

AbstractExamining the development of Romanian agriculture, one may wonder how a few large‐scale agribusinesses have managed to legitimise their position and to deflect open criticism even as they control a disproportionate share of arable land. Clarification may be provided by Pierre Bourdieu's concept of field, which involves the simultaneous characterisation of sets of objective positions and symbolic struggles over the definition of hierarchical principles. This analytical framework allows us to shed light on the economic field and its relationships with other fields, which each have their own structure and are each influenced by specific struggles. Large‐scale agricultural holdings in Romania find support within the political and the scientific fields, each of which provides supports within the bureaucratic field. The coincidence of different fields prevents any questioning of the economic model on which the development of large‐scale farming is based.

ABSTRACTIn this article, the agricultural sector in Romania provides the basis of a sociological enquiry into the contribution of statistics to the definition of legitimate economic organization. Using the analytical tools developed by James C. Scott, the emphasis is laid on the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN) developed by the European Commission to define 'economically viable' farms. The measurement units which the FADN provides are applied at national level to determine legitimate agricultural practices. This imposes a productivist definition of the agricultural economy which diverges from the modes of social and economic organization observed in rural areas in Romania. Four million Romanian citizens make their living directly from working the land. The majority own smallholdings received during decollectivization and practise subsistence farming at the fringes of the legal economy. Instead of employing a definition of agriculture consistent with their practices and developing local distribution channels, quantification instruments provided by the European Commission form the basis of a selection procedure among these smallholders. These instruments have enabled the Romanian Ministry of Agriculture to set a threshold of 'economic viability' below which producers are deemed unable to develop a commercial approach to their activities. The objective is to help those who just about reach the required level to consolidate their agricultural holdings and take up intensive farming. The remainder are disqualified and encouraged to leave the sector. To further this objective, the category 'semi‐subsistence' agriculture has been created and takes centre stage in all measures implemented. Nevertheless, the statistical dividing lines on which this category is based have no substance and the structure of agriculture is manifesting high levels of inertia.

The article aims to shed light on how multinational agrochemistry firms can steer academic research and ensure that it contributes to the promotion of intensive agriculture. On the basis of a survey focusing on the case of Romania, the common explanation which attributes the recruitment of researchers to the sole pull force of new sources of funding is denied. An alternative reading is proposed which highlights the structuring nature of the divisions observed in the scientific field. The Romanian agronomy is the backbone of power relations resulting from a combination of the trajectories followed under the Communist regime and integration into international research networks. Researchers from the Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences and from the Universities of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine have very different positions. This results in violent classification struggles. Agrochemical companies maintain them by providing each other with the means to strengthen their arguments. In return, all of them manage to disqualify the small parcel property and legitimise the construction of large farms geared towards intensive agriculture. ; International audience ; The article aims to shed light on how multinational agrochemistry firms can steer academic research and ensure that it contributes to the promotion of intensive agriculture. On the basis of a survey focusing on the case of Romania, the common explanation which attributes the recruitment of researchers to the sole pull force of new sources of funding is denied. An alternative reading is proposed which highlights the structuring nature of the divisions observed in the scientific field. The Romanian agronomy is the backbone of power relations resulting from a combination of the trajectories followed under the Communist regime and integration into international research networks. Researchers from the Academy of Agricultural and Forestry Sciences and from the Universities of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine have very different ...

Résumé À partir d'une enquête empirique sur le secteur vitivinicole en Roumanie, l'article propose un éclairage sur le rôle joué par l'Union européenne dans la délimitation et la représentation de nouveaux « intérêts » économiques. Un écart est marqué avec les travaux qui se limitent à mesurer l'« accès » de groupes constitués aux institutions supranationales. La démarche retenue consiste plutôt à caractériser des jeux de labellisation et une circulation entre les espaces nationaux et européens de représentation. Les grands opérateurs qui dominent le marché du vin roumain se positionnent à la tête d'organisations concurrentes. Chacun obtient des appuis à Bruxelles, dans le cadre de l'Organisation commune de marché, et les valorise ensuite à Bucarest. Plusieurs définitions du produit à défendre sont ainsi livrées. L'administration nationale est invitée à officialiser l'une ou l'autre. Mais des alliances à géométrie variable l'empêchent de trancher.

International audience ; As a member of the European Community since 2007, Romania is expected to provide statistical data conforming to the European Commission's standards. Agriculture has come under particularly close scrutiny with almost four million Romanians earning their living directly from the land. The vast majority of them own small plots of land recovered during decollectivisation that they use for subsistence farming outside of national economic circuits. The Romanian Ministry of Agriculture is gradually integrating the Farm Accountancy Data Network established by the European Commission to assess the "economic size" of farms. The measuring units it imposes are used on a national scale to define legitimate agricultural practices, and a threshold has been set below which producers are esteemed unable to develop a commercial approach. The policies implemented are aimed at helping those who only just reach the required level to consolidate their farms and switch to intensive farming, with the others being disqualified and encouraged to leave the sector. The category of "semi-subsistence" farming was thus created, becoming the focus of the measures introduced. However, the statistical category on which it is based is devoid of substance and a marked inertia in the agricultural structure can be observed. This case study sheds light on the limitations of the effectiveness of figures, demonstrating that European statistics have a significant impact only when national administrations use them as means to strengthen established categories ; Membre de l'Union européenne depuis 2007, la Roumanie est tenue d'alimenter les bases statistiques communautaires. Le secteur agricole fait l'objet d'une attention particulière. Près de quatre millions de citoyens roumains vivent directement du travail de la terre. Dans leur très grande majorité, ils sont propriétaires de petites parcelles récupérées à la faveur de la décollectivisation et s'y livrent à des cultures de subsistance, en marge des circuits économiques ...

International audience ; As a member of the European Community since 2007, Romania is expected to provide statistical data conforming to the European Commission's standards. Agriculture has come under particularly close scrutiny with almost four million Romanians earning their living directly from the land. The vast majority of them own small plots of land recovered during decollectivisation that they use for subsistence farming outside of national economic circuits. The Romanian Ministry of Agriculture is gradually integrating the Farm Accountancy Data Network established by the European Commission to assess the "economic size" of farms. The measuring units it imposes are used on a national scale to define legitimate agricultural practices, and a threshold has been set below which producers are esteemed unable to develop a commercial approach. The policies implemented are aimed at helping those who only just reach the required level to consolidate their farms and switch to intensive farming, with the others being disqualified and encouraged to leave the sector. The category of "semi-subsistence" farming was thus created, becoming the focus of the measures introduced. However, the statistical category on which it is based is devoid of substance and a marked inertia in the agricultural structure can be observed. This case study sheds light on the limitations of the effectiveness of figures, demonstrating that European statistics have a significant impact only when national administrations use them as means to strengthen established categories ; Membre de l'Union européenne depuis 2007, la Roumanie est tenue d'alimenter les bases statistiques communautaires. Le secteur agricole fait l'objet d'une attention particulière. Près de quatre millions de citoyens roumains vivent directement du travail de la terre. Dans leur très grande majorité, ils sont propriétaires de petites parcelles récupérées à la faveur de la décollectivisation et s'y livrent à des cultures de subsistance, en marge des circuits économiques ...