The Limits of State-Led Land Reform: An Introduction

This essay introduces a collection of papers that examine the effects of contemporary land reform ill practice. This essay focuses on the roles of state and community in land reform. It argues that state-led strategies encounter significant problems on the ground due to their reliance oil "top-down" initiatives and bureaucratic implementation. Empirical and conceptual insights suggest the benefits of a shift ill emphasis from state to community ill land reform. Emphasis On community calls for a State that is More reactive to political demands originating "from below" and more responsive to variation ill local institutions and practices. (C) 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.