Power and politics in land administration reform.
What is the future of development aid in an emerging world order characterised by the rise of middle classes in Asia and Africa, the growing convergence between Global North and South, the re-emergence of great power competition and the threat posed by a changing climate?
This question is crucial and urgent for the European Union for two reasons. First, the EU and its member states collectively account for over 50% of all global development aid. Second, the EU’s role as an international actor remains unclear.
The importance of land
The importance of land and agrarian change in this changing context cannot be overstated. Academic authorities have noted the importance of dispossession and growing landlessness in the stubborn persistence of hunger and malnutrition in the Global South, and the central importance of independent land rights for women in pursuit of gender equity.
Tensions between conservation efforts and affected forest dwelling communities are attracting greater prominence, particularly as a result of increasing investments through instruments like REDD+.
Role of this project
For various reasons the importance of land has historically been marginalised in mainstream development practice. In terms of the EU’s global priorities, whether the problem is gender equity, food security or climate change resilience, the agrarian question cannot be ignored.
This project analyses the critical role of land tenure, land rights, and ongoing practices of land administration in international development policy, set against the wider EU global strategy. This includes original research on Bangladesh, where all of these trends converge.
Project activities
Conduct original research on EU interventions relating to land in Bangladesh
Convene a major event on land within EU development policy involving practitioners and academics from diverse contexts around the world
Organise “virtual classrooms” with partner organisations to increase practical insight into EU development policy among MA and MSc students in both development studies and European Union studies curricula
Hold a second event focusing on disseminating policy relevant outcomes to EU decision makers
For info, contact oliver.scanlan@ulab.edu.bd and follow us on Facebook and Twitter.