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?

T. David Mason is professor of political science at the University of North Texas, Denton.

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