Caught in the Crossfire presents a multifaceted explanation of why people participate in something as dangerous and uncertain as a revolutionary movement. Beginning with an analysis of the grievances that motivate peasant participation in political movements, the book also explores the additional factors_leadership, resources, and strategies_required to mobilize peasants for collective action. Collective action itself need not be violent, but a repressive state response can quickly transform a reformist movement into a revolution. Mason shows how different strategies on the part of various actors can result in a government victory, a rebel victory, or a negotiated settlement. The book concludes with a look to the future: Will the emerging trends toward political democratization and economic globalization make revolution in the countryside more or less likely?

By David T. Mason

Chapter 1 Preface
Chapter 2 The Puzzle of Revolution in the Third World
Chapter 3 Theories of Revolution: The Evolution of the Field
Chapter 4 Dependent Development and the Crisis of Rural Stability
Chapter 5 Mobilizing Peasant Social Movements
Chapter 6 The Response of the State: Reform or Repression?
Chapter 7 State Repression and the Escalation of Revolutionary Violence
Chapter 8 Win, Lose, or Draw: How Civil Wars End
Chapter 9 Reform, Repression, and Revolution in El Salvador
Chapter 10 Peruvian Land Reform and the Rise of Sendero Luminoso
Chapter 11 The Future of Revolutions in the Countryside: Globalization, Democratization, and Peacekeeping