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: Paperback / softback
Length: 250 pages
Publication date: 13 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 study of land deals in the Global South. 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 of 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, such as 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 distribution of wealth and power.

At the same time, land deals in the Global South have also sparked intense debates and controversies. Critics argue that these deals often benefit multinational corporations and foreign investors at the expense of local communities, indigenous peoples, and the environment. They point to the displacement of rural populations, the loss of agricultural land, and the degradation of ecosystems as a result of these deals. Moreover, there are concerns about the impact of these deals on food security, as they can lead to the concentration of land ownership in the hands of a few and undermine local food production systems.

Upland Geopolitics seeks to address these issues by examining the case of Chinese agribusiness investment in northern Laos. Through ethnographic and archival research, the book explores the unequal geography of the new global land rush and the ways in which legacies of Cold War conflict continue to shape the landscape. The book connects the current rubber plantation boom to a longer trajectory of foreign intervention in the region, revealing how the legacies of conflict continue to pave the way for transnational enclosure in a socially uneven landscape.

One of the key findings of Upland Geopolitics is the unequal distribution of benefits and costs associated with land deals. While multinational corporations and foreign investors may benefit from the access to arable land and the potential for high profits, local communities and indigenous peoples often face significant challenges. For example, the influx of Chinese agribusiness investment in northern Laos has led to the displacement of local farmers and the loss of agricultural land. Moreover, there are concerns about the environmental impact of these investments, as they often involve large-scale deforestation and the use of pesticides and fertilizers that can harm ecosystems and human health.

Another important aspect of Upland Geopolitics is the role of international institutions and governments in regulating land deals. The book argues that the current global land rush is driven by the demand for agricultural land and the pursuit of economic growth. However, the lack of effective regulation and oversight has allowed multinational corporations and foreign investors to exploit the vulnerabilities of local communities and the environment. The book calls for greater transparency and accountability in land deals, as well as the recognition of the rights and interests of local communities and indigenous peoples.

In conclusion, Upland Geopolitics is a valuable contribution to the study of land deals in the Global South. Through its exploration of the unequal geography of the new global land rush and the ways in which legacies of Cold War conflict continue to shape the landscape, the book provides insights into the complex interplay between economic development, food security, climate change, and regional and international trade. The book's call for greater transparency and accountability in land deals and the recognition of the rights and interests of local communities and indigenous peoples is crucial for promoting sustainable and equitable development in the Global South.

Weight: 390g
Dimension: 151 x 229 x 18 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780295750491