Introduction

The Agrarian South Network (ASN) will convene its 5^th Annual Study Group in 2025, to be held from April to October, in ten (10) online sessions. The study group provides a space for collective reflection and learning among postgraduate students, researchers, academic faculty, and political activists and cadre. The theme this year will be on ‘Colonial Social Formations’, focusing on the colonial foundations of the transitions to capitalism in Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, from a comparative perspective.

Objectives

The objective is to obtain historical perspective and conceptual rigour on the colonial foundations of capitalism as a mode of production. Special attention will be given to the similarities and differences among colonial experiences and mechanisms of imperialist exploitation. The method of historical materialism will guide this collective reflection with an interest in advancing contemporary thought and practice in the Marxist traditions of the Third World. Current debates within the Agrarian South Network and the journal Agrarian South will be discussed and assessed.

Study method

The method is that of collective study guided by the editorial team of Agrarian South. The basic readings will be provided in electronic form. The sessions will involve a brief presentation of readings by designated participants, followed by discussion. Every session will include a reflection on prior sessions to consolidate a cumulative learning process. The method does not include lectures. The language medium will be English. The sessions will take place on Zoom, every three weeks on Wednesdays. The time of the sessions will be UTC 13:00, with adjustments for daylight savings where applicable. The allocation of presentations will be defined in advance, on an equitable basis. The dates of the sessions may be subject to minor adjustments.

Organization and participation

The collaborating organizations of this ASN initiative include The Sam Moyo African Institute for Agrarian Studies (SMAIAS) in Harare, the Centre for Agrarian Research and Education for South (CARES) in New Delhi, and Coletivo Novo Bandung in São Paulo. Participation in the study group will be by invitation, recommendation, and a public call for expression of interest. There will be a limited number of 40 places. An even distribution among the three continents will be sought. Women are especially encouraged to participate.

Call for expression of interest

Interested persons may respond by 9 March via this online form: https://bit.ly/4gMmM93 🔗. The selection will be publicized by 14 March on our web and social media. The selection will not be communicated individually. The introductory session will take place on 19 March. Please consult our social media: lnk.bio/agrariansouth 🔗.

Public call

You can find below the public call for the ASN Study Group 2025 in English, Spanish, French, Portuguese and Arabic.

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Topic: Revolution and the State

Main readings:

• LENIN, V.I. (1965[1917]). State and Revolution. Collected Works, V.25. Moscow: For. Lang. (1–3)7–40.
• GRAMSCI, A. (1971). Selections from Prison Notebooks. NY: International Publishers. 229–241.
• MAO, T.-T. (1965[1940]). On New Democracy. In: Selected Works, Vol. 2. Peking: For. Lang. 1–34.

Date & time: Wednesday, April 5th, 2023, 1 – 3pm (UTC).

Introduction

The Agrarian South Network (ASN) will convene a Study Group on the theme of ‘Socialist Transition: Problems of Delinking and Planning in the Periphery’, to be held from March to October 2023, in ten (10) online sessions. The study group will provide a space for collective reflection and learning among political activists and cadre, researchers, postgraduate students, and academic faculty on fundamental issues pertaining to socialist transition in the twenty-first century. The theme will bring focus to problems of delinking and the challenges of economic planning in the contemporary social formations of Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean.

Objectives

The objective is to gain analytical perspective and conceptual rigor on the challenges of socialist transition in the twenty-first century. Special attention will be given to problems of delinking and trajectories of socialist planning from the twentieth century to the present. The method of historical materialism will guide this collective reflection with an interest in advancing contemporary thought and practice in the Marxist traditions of the Third World. Current debates and publications within the Agrarian South Network and the journal Agrarian South will also be discussed and assessed.

Study method

The language medium will be English. The sessions will take place on Zoom, every three weeks on Wednesdays. The time of the sessions will be GMT 13:00 (with adjustments for daylight savings where applicable). The basic readings and some complementary texts will be provided in electronic format. The sessions will entail a brief presentation of readings by designated participants followed by discussion. Every session will seek to build on prior sessions to ensure a cumulative learning process. The allocation of presentations will be defined in advance on an equitable basis. The dates of the sessions may be subject to adjustments.

Organization and participation

The collaborating organizations of this ASN initiative include The Sam Moyo African Institute for Agrarian Studies (SMAIAS) in Zimbabwe, the Centre for Agrarian Research and Education for South (CARES) in India, and Coletivo Novo Bandung in Brazil. Participation in the study group will be by invitation, recommendation, and a public call for expression of interest. There will be a limited number of 40 places. An even distribution among the three continents will be pursued. Women are especially encouraged to participate.

Selection of Participants

More information about other editions of our study group available here.

Topic: Monopoly, imperialist rent and permanent war
Main readings:
– S. Amin (2010). The Law of Worldwide Value. NY: MR.
– A. Kadri (2016). Permanent War in the Arab World. In: The Unmaking of Arab Socialism. London & NY: Anthem.
Date & Time: Wednesday, June 22nd, 2022, 1 – 3pm (UTC).