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Land is one of the world's most emotionally resonant resources, and control over it is fundamental to almost all human activity. From the local level to the global, we are often in conflict over the ground beneath our feet. But because human relationships to land are so complex, it can be difficult to think them through in a unified way. This path-breaking book aims to change that by combining insights from multiple disciplines to develop a framework for understanding the geopolitics of land today.
Struggles over land, argues Derek Hall, relate to three basic its role as territory, its status as property, and the ways in which its use is regulated. This timely introduction explores key dimensions of these themes, including inter-state wars over territory, the efforts of non-governmental organizations to protect property rights and environments in the global South, and the ‘land grabs’ attempted by contemporary corporations and governments. Drawing on a wide range of cases and examples - from the Afghanistan-Pakistan border to the Canadian Arctic, China’s urban fringe to rural Honduras - the book provides new ways of thinking about the political dynamics of land in the 21st century.
This richly detailed and authoritative guide will be of interest to students across the social sciences, as well as anyone interested in current affairs and contemporary geopolitics.
Struggles over land, argues Derek Hall, relate to three basic its role as territory, its status as property, and the ways in which its use is regulated. This timely introduction explores key dimensions of these themes, including inter-state wars over territory, the efforts of non-governmental organizations to protect property rights and environments in the global South, and the ‘land grabs’ attempted by contemporary corporations and governments. Drawing on a wide range of cases and examples - from the Afghanistan-Pakistan border to the Canadian Arctic, China’s urban fringe to rural Honduras - the book provides new ways of thinking about the political dynamics of land in the 21st century.
This richly detailed and authoritative guide will be of interest to students across the social sciences, as well as anyone interested in current affairs and contemporary geopolitics.
- GenresGeography
176 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2012
1 person is currently reading
42 people want to read
About the author
Derek Hall
2 books1 follower<>There is more than one author in the Goodreads catalog with this name. This entry is for Derek ^2 Hall. Dr. Derek Hall is Associate Professor at Wilfrid Laurier University.
BA (Trent),
MA (York),
PhD (Cornell)
His main research interests are in international political economy, Japanese politics, the political economy of East and Southeast Asia, environmental politics, the history of capitalism, and the political economy of food, land and agriculture.
BA (Trent),
MA (York),
PhD (Cornell)
His main research interests are in international political economy, Japanese politics, the political economy of East and Southeast Asia, environmental politics, the history of capitalism, and the political economy of food, land and agriculture.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
August 20, 2013
Land ownership is such a central concept in our modern, Western culture that it we generally take it for granted. But control of land is far more complex than most of us realize. This book sheds light on the complex issues related to land in the context of transnational control of land. As the world continues to evolve towards an ever more globally linked economy, it is becoming increasingly common for groups (whether they be corporations, people, or governments) to seek to control land and land use across national borders in ways that illustrate the unique characteristics and challenges associated with the idea of land as a resource.
The book defines three categories of land control: territory, regulation and property. The idea of territory is associated with nations (both in the form of states and in the form of peoples, such as indigenous populations), while the concept of property deals with the individual ownership of specific pieces of land, or has the specific rights to the use of it. Finally, regulation defines the limits of how land can be used, as determined by the appropriate government authority. What this book makes clear is that in all of these areas, there is an increasing movement towards transnational influence and impact related to all three of these categories. While state boundaries are seemingly defined and stable, the author notes that there are significant areas where the notions of territory remain unsettled, and that these regions can have significant geopolitical and geo-economic impacts far beyond the specific regions in question. In addition, the demand for land, whether for food production, for industrial development, or for conservation, is creating transnational pressure to modify the way land is regulated, and cross border land ownership is growing. These trends will influence what the future of international relations will look like and deserves attention.
For anyone concerned about global political and economic issues, this book provides a solid framework for thinking about the role of land in any evaluation of these matters.
The book defines three categories of land control: territory, regulation and property. The idea of territory is associated with nations (both in the form of states and in the form of peoples, such as indigenous populations), while the concept of property deals with the individual ownership of specific pieces of land, or has the specific rights to the use of it. Finally, regulation defines the limits of how land can be used, as determined by the appropriate government authority. What this book makes clear is that in all of these areas, there is an increasing movement towards transnational influence and impact related to all three of these categories. While state boundaries are seemingly defined and stable, the author notes that there are significant areas where the notions of territory remain unsettled, and that these regions can have significant geopolitical and geo-economic impacts far beyond the specific regions in question. In addition, the demand for land, whether for food production, for industrial development, or for conservation, is creating transnational pressure to modify the way land is regulated, and cross border land ownership is growing. These trends will influence what the future of international relations will look like and deserves attention.
For anyone concerned about global political and economic issues, this book provides a solid framework for thinking about the role of land in any evaluation of these matters.
May 18, 2013
Political Science majors might enjoy this work the most, as it details modern concepts in the use and manipulation of land and the current ways in which states are formed. I enjoyed learning the concepts, but it was heavy reading and might be better experienced in a class or discussion group.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews