What is a Chief without Land? Impact of Land Reforms on Power Structures in Namibia

Abstract

Land is a key element to socio-economic development, peace- and state-building in Africa. It is inherent to local identity and inextricably linked to power. In Namibia, land rights were historically administered and allocated by traditional authorities. However, with the adoption of the 2002 Communal Land Reform Act, these customary land rights were codified. Drawing on qualitative interviews conducted in Namibia with state officials, traditional authorities of the Nama and Ovambo ethnicity, workers and farmers, we show that although it was presented as a decentralization reform, the Act reintroduced the Namibian state as a central actor in land tenure. This has resulted in power struggles between the state and traditional authorities, albeit to varying intensities as some traditional authorities have historically restricted access to communal land and limited political leverage.     

Second-Generation Policy Priorities for Colonias and Informal Settlements in Texas

Along the Texas border with Mexico, more than 400,000 people live in over 2,000 informal self-help settlements known as colonias. These exceedingly low-income, largely Latino settlements have historically suffered from severe health risks, poor infrastructure and housing conditions, and physical and social isolation. Researchers and policymakers have focused extensively on what I call “first-generation policy priorities.” This has primarily entailed efforts to regularize title and infrastructure, support self-help home improvement for colonia homeowners, and prevent the growth of new informal settlements along the border region. I provide a comprehensive review of existing research on colonias to document the myriad ways in which housing and infrastructure conditions and titling practices have changed since these settlements first proliferated throughout the border region in the second half of the 20th century. These changes necessitate a rethinking of the policy priorities for colonias and informal settlements throughout the state. In particular, I argue that colonias must be recast to recognize the significant improvements that have taken place but also the long-term and sometimes severe problems that persist. These “second-generation policy priorities” include the development of sustainable forms of governance, regulation, and finance to address ongoing infrastructure investment needs in colonias; supporting access to and upkeep of safe and affordable renter- and owner-occupied housing through both self-help and contractor-led projects; ensuring long-term title clarity; and promoting community organizing in new and aging settlements.     

现代矿业地役权制度探析

矿业用地制度创新的根本出路在于资源产权的合理安排。以现代矿业地役权作为矿业用地的重要方式,既是拓展矿业用地获取途径的出路,更是提高资源利用效率的出路。从主体、客体、内容等方面构建的现代矿业地役权是传统地役权的转型升级,以地下空间为需役地的空间地役权、为获取矿业广场而设立的地表地役权等基本覆盖矿业用地领域。地役权的主体界定以及合同订立,是矿山企业设立地役权的重要内容。地役权的从属性而显示其弱权利性,可通过地役权登记原则、物权请求权以及法律责任等方式,维护地役权的预期、稳定和圆满。     

伪满的商租权整理

1915年《中日民四条约》签订后,日本依据商租权条款在中国东北投资设厂,结果遭到历届中国政府与人民的强烈抵抗。为维护满蒙利益,日本最终全面入侵中国东北,扶植伪满洲国。1932年以后,为彻底解决在中国东北的土地权益问题,日本开始整理商租权。在此过程中,日本人的土地掠夺被披上了合法的外衣。半数以上的商租权转化为伪满洲国《民法》上的所有权。本文分析了商租权整理的条约依据、国内法依据以及进行的程序,揭露了商租权整理的殖民主义实质。     

论苏南农村土地制度的变革

苏南农村已发生了由家庭承包的土地制度到农场规模经营的土地制度的变化,而土地制度市场化又促发了农场规模经营的土地制度纳入农村市场经济体制中的质变。土地制度市场化是我国农村土寺制度变革的方向。     

论农村土地承包经营制度发展及其对策

数千年来,中国农村的土地问题一直都是国家社会经济发展的基础和关键所在。随着近几年中央陆续出台的几个“一号文件”,“三农问题”特别是农村土地问题成为了国家农业经济改革的重中之重。为加快农村土地制度的改革完善,越来越多的专家学者将改革目光投向了农村土地流转的改革上,并且2014年发布的“一号文件”,强调农业改革、发展现代农业以及继续将农业视为经济根本的重要性。同时,首次提出了农村土地承包经营权“三权分离”这一概念。本文主要通过理论上的分析,结合当前农村土地承包经营权的发展现状,对“三权分离”实施的可行性进行解读和探究。     

浅析“先供后证”与“先证后供”

在刑事诉讼中,调查取证的方式大致可以分为两种,即“先供后证”与“先证后供”.笔者认为,在坚持程序合法和保障人权的前提下,“先供后证”与“先证后供”是相辅相成的,而不是互不相容的,但两种调查取证的方式又各有利弊.为了更好地打击犯罪,维护公平正义,本文将对这两种调查取证方式的价值与利弊从侦查的角度进行分析,以便为刑事诉讼的发展提供科学的理论依据.     

中国企业家犯罪的文化进路———历史性抑商情结的现实展开简

受贿罪在国有企业家中位居首位,依次是贪污罪和挪用公款罪,而触犯非法吸收公众存款罪和非法集资罪的全部是民营企业家,滋生出来的“官本位”是最重要的价值取向。这种现状与传统的抑商情结有密切的联系,具有历史的巧合与现实的必然。抑商是为统治秩序和权力服务的,抑商情结可以解释当前中国社会价值紊乱的历史原因,国企民企的多种犯罪的实质是与制度性缺陷有密切的联系。     

Who will make the ‘best’ use of Africa’s land? Lessons from Zimbabwe

Conflict over African land – between smallholders and large industrial farmers and between domestic farmers and global agribusinesses – raises key questions about who will make the best use of African land and which farmers do most to decrease poverty and produce more food, industrial inputs and exports. Zimbabwe has already gone through two major changes in land occupation, and thus provides an important test of what is the ‘best’ use of the land. Three measures of ‘best’ use have been cited in Zimbabwe: reward for military victory, poverty reduction and agricultural production. Initial evidence indicates that commercial smallholder production is a better use of the land than larger, more mechanised farming.     

土地征收范围和补偿机制的国际比较及启示

公共利益性、补偿性是土地征收制度最重要的特征。要借鉴国外一般做法,严格界定我国土地征收的公共利益性外延,建立土地征收的合理补偿机制和分配机制,规范土地征收主体,推进我国土地征收制度改革。