Guerrilla History National Liberation Struggles & the Agrarian Question w/ Max Ajl [REMASTERED]
Aug 22, 2025
Max Ajl, an associated researcher focused on food sovereignty and environmental issues, shares insights into the agrarian question's significance in national liberation struggles. He discusses the historical and ongoing impacts of rural politics on movements in Algeria and Palestine, emphasizing land rights and colonial legacies. The conversation dives into the intersection of agriculture with revolutionary theory in Russia and China, and how modern conflicts exacerbate global food security. Ajl's expertise shines through as he explores these vital topics impacting today's socio-political landscape.
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Agrarian Question As A Reframing Lens
- The agrarian question is a framing device to analyze social, political, economic, ecological and gender processes in the countryside.
- It corrects urban bias by centering rural struggles in broader political analysis.
Peasants Are Central To Revolution
- In countries with large rural populations, peasants must be politically attended to for revolutionary strategy to succeed.
- Ignoring agrarian demands undermines both revolution and post-revolutionary consolidation.
Algerian Land Theft And Settler Capitalism
- Algeria experienced violent settler-colonial land alienation where settlers received land and produced large exports for France.
- This process created an Algerian rural proletariat while dispossessing and immiserating the Algerian population.
