The net: power structure in ten villages

Abstract

During the Emergency Relief Programme conducted in drought affected areas in 1979 BRAC workers had the opportunity to come into very close contact with the landless and disadvantaged members of the rural community. From discussions with them much valuable information was obtained about the manner in which people occupying positions of authority utilized their advantageous positions. It was then realized that this information could be used to throw some light on the way in which the local power relations are structured. Systematic enquiry and cross-cheking of verbal accounts, obtained from villagers in ten selected villages, revealed how members of the small elite stratum build-up a network of contacts and relationships. These networks are then shown, through various incidents to be utilized for gaining access and control over scarce public and private resources.