Peasants and large agribusinesses attitudes to land

The fundamental differences in the attitudes of peasants and large agribusinesses to land are argued. In the first case, they include a range of economic, mental, ethical, cultural, and other interests, as well as strategic concerns; in the second case, they are usually limited to commercial estimates and tactical considerations. The difference in these interests is rooted in the value systems that transform into the practices of land use and attitudes towards nature. This is confirmed by the results of sociological studies of rural residents’ opinions and are linked to the theory of centripetal (for peasants) and centrifugal (for large agribusiness) economic development. The numerous peasantry protects the country from the risks of losing food security in the event of the collapse of large agribusiness once the loss of benefits from land exploitation occurs, and also contributes to solving social problems. The article formulates the paradox of the use of land in the context of market relations, when, as an object of purchase and sale, it is not always subject to the market logic. We argue for the institutional support for peasants who ensure the preservation of land without external coercion. Such support serves as a compensation, by means of extra social care, for both shortcomings of the state power and the preservation of national traditions and identity. This issue becomes particularly relevant in the context of the dominance of large businesses in agricultural production and the ongoing decline of the Russian peasantry.