Résumé
The rural worlds in the South have changed dramatically in recent decades. In addition to transformations brought about by globalization (Losch et al. 2012), they have also been affected, from near or far, by the major trends which have taken place in most contemporary societies: demographic transition (in Latin America and Asia), family reconstructions, individualization of spouses’ professional activities, questioning of patriarchal authority and the emancipation of the “dependents” (the youth, women). Even if rural societies are not all affected to the same degree, the social relationships existing in the South have evolved, resulting in profound and lasting changes in the conditions of production and reproduction of family farming.