Despite claims of its decline, redistributive land reform remains a key policy issue, particularly as economic inequality gains renewed global attention. Historically, land reform has been central to economic transformation, but its success depends on political and economic contexts. With the 2026 International Conference on Agrarian Reform and Rural Development (ICARRD) approaching, the Land Redistribution Initiative aims to assess past land reforms and extract lessons for contemporary policy.
Economic inequality is increasingly recognized as a barrier to sustainable growth. In highly unequal societies, wealth is inherited across generations, restricting broad-based economic development. Land redistribution helps break this cycle, fostering economic participation among marginalized communities.
Historically, land reform has fuelled economic progress. Examples include revolutions in France, Russia, and Mexico, as well as agrarian transformations in Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, and China. In these cases, land reforms enabled rural investment, which later drove industrialisation. However, contemporary land reforms have yielded mixed results, particularly due to the rise of neoliberal policies favouring market-driven approaches over state-led redistribution.
Over the past three decades, land reform has taken diverse forms, with varying degrees of success. Market-based programmes, which follow a “willing-seller, willing-buyer” model, have often failed due to economic constraints and limited structural transformation. By contrast, state-led reforms involving land expropriation have helped address historical injustices but have also faced political and implementation challenges.
The success of land reform depends on who receives land, where, and under what conditions. A contextualized, cross-country analysis is essential to identify broader patterns and inform future policies.
The Land Redistribution Initiative aims to compare land reform experiences in eight countries in Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe. Each case study is based on longitudinal research covering economic, political, and environmental impacts over 30–40 years. Findings will contribute to ICARRD 2026 in Colombia, culminating in a book and communications materials for wider dissemination.
By examining global land reform experiences, the initiative seeks to contribute to future policies that promote economic development, equity, and social justice.
Useful Links:
Call for papers: International conference on Land, Life and Society | Plaas
Can a new global wave of land redistribution emerge? | zimbabweland
Colombia land grabbing conference: new, silent grabs must be stopped | openDemocracy
Tackling Inequality through Land Redistribution: Lessons from Colombia | Transnational Institute
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