Contract farming and the reorganisation of agricultural production within the Chókwè Irrigation System,Mozambique

This paper contributes to the discussion about ‘inclusive business models’ as alternatives to large-scale land acquisitions by analysing a case in which a foreign agribusiness investor, within an impact investment paradigm, acquired and rehabilitated a rice processing plant in Chókwè, Mozambique. A contract farming programme drawn up to source raw produce for the factory led to radical shifts in control over land and water resources. The case is set against the background of a large-scale irrigation system that has played an important role in national agricultural policies since colonial times. The private sector-led development approach is strongly supported by the state which portrays it as an opportunity to reduce its dependency on rice imports. The investor redirected the benefits of land and water use through taking a role of coordination and control within the irrigated production system.

The ensuing rural transformation reminds one of earlier periods in the development of the irrigation system: the central control over production, and the very high level of agricultural inputs and mechanisation, remind one of the state socialist period, while the removal of smallholders from their land and its concentration in the hands of a few bears a strong resemblance to the scheme's establishment under colonial rule.     

Mosaics of property: control of village land in West Africa

ABSTRACT

The control of rural land in West Africa deviates strongly from the common notions of private and common property. Most rural peoples are formally borrowers of the land they farm. Results of a detailed study of the property rights attached to all fields within three proximate village territories in the Fakara region of southwestern Niger are presented. This work reveals that property landscapes vary significantly across villages as shaped by the history of settlement and ongoing struggles to redefine property rights. In particular, the politics within village chieftaincies over the definition of common land managed by the chief in contrast to private land held by chieftaincy members has important implications for the use rights held by all villagers. Observations point to an ongoing process of privatization supported by local interpretations of customary law.     

Power and powerlessness in an Appalachian Valley – revisited

ABSTRACT

With the rise of Trump support in rural Appalachia – the coal mining, mountainous region in the heartland of the eastern United States – media and other commentators have rushed to explain this conservative politics in ‘exceptionalist’ terms, largely based on cultural stereotypes. Revisiting my work on Power and Powerlessness in an Appalachian Valley (1980), I argue that the attention to ‘Trumpism’ fails to see or take into account the widespread rural resistance which exists in the region, historically and presently. A focus on the rise of place-based grassroots activism and scholarship in the region offers a more emancipatory view of rural politics.     

The rise of flex crops and commodities: implications for research

As a concept and phenomenon, ‘flex crops and commodities’ feature ‘multiple-ness’ and ‘flexible-ness’ as two distinct but intertwined dimensions. These key crops and commodities are shaped by the changing global context that is itself remoulded by the convergence of multiple crises and various responses. The greater multiple-ness of crops and commodity uses has altered the patterns of their production, circulation and consumption, as novel dimensions of their political economy. These new patterns change the power relations between landholders, agricultural labourers, crop exporters, processors and traders; in particular, they intensify market competition among producers and incentivize changes in land-tenure arrangements. Crop and commodity flexing have three main types – namely, real flexing, anticipated/speculative flexing and imagined flexing; these have many intersections and interactions. Their political-economic dynamics involve numerous factors that variously incentivize, facilitate or hinder the ‘multiple-ness' and/or ‘flexible-ness' of particular crops and commodities. These dynamics include ‘flex narratives' by corporate and state institutions to justify promotion of a flex agenda through support policies. In particular, a bioeconomy narrative envisages a future ‘value web’ developing more flexible value chains through more interdependent, interchangeable products and uses. A future research agenda should investigate questions about material bases, real-life changes, flex narratives and political mobilization.     

‘Opening up’ policy to reflexive appraisal: a role for Q Methodology? A case study of fire management in Cape York,Australia

Recent decades have witnessed increasing attention in theory and practice to participatory approaches to policy appraisal, in part due to the potential of such approaches to facilitate reflexive policy appraisal. It has been observed, however, that in practice these approaches are often as prone as traditional, non-participatory appraisal techniques to being limited in the extent to which that can achieve reflexivity e.g. due to the influence of interests and power and problems of representation. This article explores the extent to which Q Methodology, or ‘Q’, can play a role in ‘opening up’ (Stirling Science, Technology & Human Values, 33, 262–294, 2008) policy to reflexive appraisal. A Q study of fire management discourses in Cape York, northern Australia is presented which exposes the existence of four key discourses in the region: discourse A—rational fire management; discourse B—fire-free conservation; discourse C—pragmatic, locally controlled burning; and discourse D—indigenous controlled land management. At present only discourses A and C are reflected in policy. Appraising existing policy on the basis of the different constructions articulated by discourses B and D of the purpose of and practices involved in fire management, is successful in opening up existing policy to reflexive appraisal. In the face of considerable scientific uncertainty as to the ecological impacts of different burning regimes in northern Australia, this process of opening up has important potential for appraising the social desirability of existing policy and practice in the region. This analysis provides a practical demonstration of the wider potential of Q Methodology in opening up other important contemporary policy issues to reflexive appraisal. It also provides the basis for recommending the expansion of participatory processes for facilitating stakeholder engagement in fire management policy and practice in Cape York.

建设用地增减挂钩制度：问题与出路

增减挂钩制度在实践运行中偏离其原有的设计初衷发生异化,所以该制度在进一步推动和完善时遭到了社会各界的质疑。但是笔者认为,该制度具有相当的科学合理性,并且在我国当今建设用地短缺和集体土地使用低效的国情下有着重要的意义,不容轻易否定,但应找准问题的症结,在技术上对该政策进行完善。     

国家土地督察制度的法经济学分析

运用法经济学理论分析国家土地督察制度,通过供需分析、成本效益分析、激励分析表明,土地督察制度的供给属于由中央主导创新的供给型供给,其滞后于土地管理需要.由于我国目前还没有解决土地产权、干部考核机制问题,土地督察制度的激励机制缺失.土地督察制度是符合效率原则的,关键在于构建一套制度运行的保障机制.因此,明确界定土地督察权、建立内部激励机制、供给新的后续政策、培育"土地维权"中介组织、进行财税、产权配套改革,应该成为土地督察制度的创新方向.     

中国传统土地物权制度的解读

在以农业为基础的中华法系的发展过程中,作为民法物权客体之一的土地,对于统治阶级和被统治阶级均有重要政治、经济及军事意义。中华法系土地用益制度大体经历了三个阶段,每一阶段均有自身独特的主导性特征。社会政治力量的对比、经济的发展程度、军事征战需求,乃至宗法思想观念等因素,都对特定时期土地用益制度的形成产生直接或间接影响。     

春秋战国土地制度变革动力再探讨

生产力对春秋战国土地制度变革的决定性作用,是为实现变革提供基本条件,而不是直接动力.土地制度变革是一种制度创新,是人的创造性活动,只有通过具有意识能动作用的人的实践活动才能实现.春秋战国土地制度变革的直接动力是人们的实践活动.从井田制到授田制的变革,是家族公社公有制到个体家庭所有制变革的漫长私有化过程的结果.     

论建国后我国土地制度的演变——基于农民土地观的分析

新中国成立以来,我国先后经历了三次大规模的农村土地制度变迁,从土地改革到农村集体化,再到家庭联产承包责任制的实施,在这一过程中,农民土地观的演变轨迹颇为明显。农民究竟是如何看待他们赖以生存的土地以及他们与土地的关系,对于完善我国当前的土地制度尤为重要。