Upland Geopolitics: Postwar Laos and the Global Land Rush

Transnational access to arable land in impoverished land-rich countries is a major issue in the Global South, leading to food security, climate change, and regional and international trade. Upland Geopolitics uses the case of Chinese agribusiness investment in northern Laos to study the unbalanced geography of the new global land rush, revealing how legacies of Cold War conflict continue to pave the way for transnational enclosure in a socially uneven landscape.

Format: Hardback
Length: 250 pages
Publication date: 01 September 2022
Publisher: University of Washington Press

In the twenty-first century, land deals in the Global South have gained significant prominence and sparked intense debates. The transnational access to arable land in impoverished land-rich countries in Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia underscores the interconnectedness between the evolving geopolitics of economic development and the challenges of food security, climate change, and regional and international trade. By employing ethnographic and archival research, Upland Geopolitics delves into the unequal geography of the new global land rush. Through the case study of Chinese agribusiness investment in northern Laos, the book explores how legacies of Cold War conflict continue to pave the way for transnational enclosure in a socially uneven landscape.

Upland Geopolitics is an important contribution to the field of geography and international relations. It is freely available in an open access edition thanks to TOME (Toward an Open Monograph Ecosystem) and the generous support of Indiana University. The book's DOI is 10.6069/9780295750507.

The increasing prevalence and controversy surrounding land deals in the Global South highlight the complex interplay between economic development, food security, climate change, and regional and international trade. The transnational access to arable land in impoverished land-rich countries, particularly in Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia, underscores the growing importance of land as a resource in the global economy. This access has significant implications for food production, rural livelihoods, and the broader geopolitical dynamics of the region.

Upland Geopolitics employs ethnographic and archival research to examine the case of Chinese agribusiness investment in northern Laos. By focusing on this specific case, the book seeks to understand the unbalanced geography of the new global land rush. The book connects the current rubber plantation boom to a longer trajectory of foreign intervention in the region, highlighting how legacies of Cold War conflict continue to shape the landscape of land deals.

One of the key findings of Upland Geopolitics is the unequal distribution of benefits and risks associated with land deals. While Chinese agribusiness investment has brought economic development and job opportunities to northern Laos, it has also led to environmental degradation, social conflicts, and displacement of local communities. The book argues that the unequal geography of the new global land rush is a result of the power dynamics between multinational corporations, governments, and local communities.

The book also explores how the legacies of Cold War conflict continue to shape the landscape of land deals. The Cold War divided the world into two camps, with the United States and its allies supporting capitalist development and the Soviet Union and its allies promoting socialist development. The resulting geopolitical tensions and competition for resources have left lasting impacts on the Global South, particularly in regions that were heavily affected by the conflict.

Upland Geopolitics argues that the unequal geography of the new global land rush is a product of the ongoing struggle for control over resources and land. The book suggests that the current rubber plantation boom in northern Laos is part of a larger pattern of foreign intervention in the region, driven by the pursuit of economic growth and geopolitical influence. The book also highlights the role of local communities and indigenous peoples in the land deals, emphasizing the need for their participation and protection in the decision-making process.

In conclusion, Upland Geopolitics is a valuable contribution to the field of geography and international relations. By examining the case of Chinese agribusiness investment in northern Laos, the book sheds light on the unequal geography of the new global land rush and the complex interplay between economic development, food security, climate change, and regional and international trade. The book's findings highlight the need for more equitable and sustainable land deals that prioritize the well-being of local communities and the environment.

Weight: 494g
Dimension: 229 x 152 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780295750484