Unveiling the adverse impact of land grabbing: a contemporary phenomenon

Abstract

This thesis aims to examine the complex phenomena of land grabbing, which is defined as the acquisition of land for economic gain at the expense of the host country and local residents. Despite the fact that it has been widely discussed in recent years, it remains a critical issue that requires further investigation. For this reason, the birth of land grabbing is discussed in the first chapter, as it is a phenomenon that has no beginning date but is the result of continuous changes in society over the centuries, particularly with the birth of modern capitalism, which laid the foundations for an increasingly massive development of land grabbing. The present motivations that drive countries and businesses to buy foreign territories for profit are also underlined, as the mode of business had to change, at least superficially, in comparison to the past. Finally, the first chapter examines how, in many situations, land grabbing results in the transfer of territorial sovereignty, which is then transferred to the new landowners, allowing them to impose themselves on the territory almost like a new head, administering land and people however they want. In the second chapter, this paper presents various practical examples to best highlight the problem of land grabbing, focusing for example on China and India, two of the world's largest land grabber countries, as well as European nations. We will examine cases that occur on the African continent, as this is the most common recipient of these acts, as well as in South-East Asia, such as Laos, a country bordering China that is subjected to strong Chinese investment. In the third and last chapter, it will be analyzed how huge international institutions like the IMF, the World Bank, and the World Trade Organization deal with land grabbing. This is an important issue because these actors have frequently declared their support for the phenomenon, stating that it would benefit poor countries while also allowing for increased economic growth. The role of the recipient states of these measures will also be discussed, as we observe a new type of global governance that alters the powers of the state as a legal entity. Finally, the different international solutions proposed to govern the topic of land grabbing will be examined, such as developing a code of conduct, guidelines, or signing actual treaties on how foreign investments should be managed.