Turning Land into Capital: Development and Dispossession in the Mekong Region

Reversals of agrarian reforms in Southeast Asia have led to increased land concentration and the promotion of export-oriented agribusiness, exposing the convergence of capitalist relations and state agendas. Turning Land into Capital explores the contradictions produced by superimposing neoliberal projects onto diverse landscapes, revealing the place-specific interactions of state and market ideologies, regional geopolitics, and local elites in concentrating control over land.

Format: Paperback / softback
Length: 264 pages
Publication date: 01 September 2022
Publisher: University of Washington Press

In Southeast Asia, a concerning trend has emerged where earlier agrarian reforms, aimed at redistributing land to the tillers, have been reversed. This reversal has resulted in increased land concentration and the promotion of export-oriented agribusiness, often at the expense of smallholder farmers. This trend exposes the convergence of capitalist relations and state agendas, which seek to expand territorial control within and across national borders.

Turning Land into Capital delves into the complex dynamics that arise when twenty-first-century neoliberal projects are imposed on diverse landscapes shaped by decades of war and state socialism. The book's chapters explore various aspects, including geopolitics, the legacies of colonialism, development ideologies, and strategies for achieving land justice in Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam. Through this comprehensive analysis, the book sheds light on the place-specific interactions between state and market ideologies, regional geopolitics, and local elites that contribute to the concentration of control over land.

The consequences of this trend are far-reaching, as it undermines the livelihoods of rural communities, perpetuates inequality, and threatens the sustainability of agriculture. The book emphasizes the need for a holistic approach that addresses the historical, social, and economic factors contributing to land concentration and promotes equitable access to land for all. It calls for policies that prioritize smallholder farmers, support sustainable agriculture, and protect the rights of indigenous communities.

Turning Land into Capital serves as a valuable resource for scholars, policymakers, and activists seeking to understand the complex dynamics of land reform and promote sustainable development in Southeast Asia. By examining the intersections of state power, market forces, and local communities, the book offers insights into the challenges and opportunities facing rural societies as they navigate the changing landscape of land ownership and management.

Weight: 363g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780295750460