Hierarchy and egalitarianism
Subtitle: caste, class, and power in Sinhalese peasant society
By: Tamara Gunasekera.
Series: Monographs on social anthropology ;; no. 65
Publisher: Athlone Press
Published: 1994
Place of publication: London; Atlantic Highlands, NJ
Language: eng
Number of pages: 273
Subjects: Sinhalese (Sri Lankan people) -- Social conditions.; Sinhalese (Sri Lankan people) -- Economic conditions.; Sinhalese (Sri Lankan people) -- Politics and government.; Social structure -- Sri Lanka.; Caste -- Sri Lanka.; Sri Lanka -- Social conditions.; Sri Lanka -- Economic conditions.
Description: Dr Gunasekera provides a comprehensive analysis of stratification in rural Sri Lanka, taking account of the hierarchies of class, status and power. The book highlights the fundamental changes that have occurred, by comparing the nature of contemporary stratification with that prevailing at the turn of the century.

The interaction of national, regional and local politics has given rise to a new rural power elite based on political connections, a process which has destroyed the traditional foundations of village leadership and threatens rural development based on collective participation.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references (p. [262]-269) and index.