Theories of Land Reform and Their Impact on Land Reform Success in Southern Africa

Simon Hull, Kehinde Babalola and Jennifer Whittal
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Simon Hull: Division of Geomatics, School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X1, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7708, South Africa
Kehinde Babalola: Division of Geomatics, School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X1, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7708, South Africa
Jennifer Whittal: Division of Geomatics, School of Architecture, Planning and Geomatics, University of Cape Town, Private Bag X1, Rondebosch, Cape Town 7708, South Africa

Land, 2019, vol. 8, issue 11, 1-28

Abstract: Our purpose is to present and test a typology of land reform theories as a means of understanding and interrogating the motives behind land reform and to better equip land administrators and policymakers to enact land reform programs that are appropriate for their contexts. Here, land reform is understood to include the related concepts of land redistribution, land restitution, land tenure reform and land administration reform. The theory typology thus has application for land restitution programs specifically operating in the global South. The continuum of theories is derived from literature and tested through a multiple case study of land reform in Nigeria, Mozambique, and South Africa, drawing from a combination of primary and secondary data. The findings suggest an over-reliance on replacement theories in all three contexts, although the Mozambican experience draws on theories towards the middle of the continuum (the adaptation theories). This is recommended as the most viable approach for the context.

Keywords: land reform; cadastral systems; customary tenure; development theory; land rights; land tenure (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q15 Q2 Q24 Q28 Q5 R14 R52 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (18)

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