Ishimoda's idea, which had a big impact on the study of Japanese history, gave rise to much active research and discussion, including studies that related local lords with the formation of military governments (the Kamakura bakufu and the Muromachi bakufu), efforts to trace the process of rise and decline of local lords from the late Heian Period to the Sengoku period, as well as criticisms against the Ishimoda theory (which defined the local lord as a slave master, as well the 'non-lord theory,' which argued that the local lord was a mere officer in charge under the lord of the manor).
石母田の考えは日本史学に大きな影響力を与え、在地領主と武家政権（鎌倉幕府・室町幕府）成立史を結びつける研究や在地領主の形成と解体の過程を平安時代後期から戦国時代(日本)に探る動きなどの動きが見られ、反対に石母田説への批判論（在地領主を奴隷制支配者と捉える説や荘園領主の被官に過ぎないとする説などの「非領主論説」）も含めた活発な議論が行われた。