This volume investigates the complex intersection of agrarian change, rural displacement, and the subsequent emergence of organized resistance movements across Southeast Asia. Edited by Dominique Caouette and Sarah Turner, the work compiles interdisciplinary research to analyze how neoliberal economic policies and state-led development projects impact rural livelihoods. The contributors employ a political ecology framework to examine the power dynamics between marginalized farming communities and state or corporate actors. By synthesizing diverse case studies, the authors argue that rural resistance is not merely a reaction to economic hardship but a sophisticated assertion of rights, identity, and land sovereignty.

Scholars in the field of Southeast Asian studies frequently cite this text for its rigorous documentation of contemporary rural conflicts. Experts highlight the book as a foundational resource for understanding the structural causes of agrarian unrest in the region.