Publication – The Struggle over Land in Africa: Conflicts, Politics and Change

Ward Anseeum, Chris Alden (Eds.), 2010

Co-edition HSRC/IFAS-Research

ISBN-13: 978-07969-2322-6

ISBN-10: 0-7969-2322-6

280 pages.

This publication analyses the role of land as a place and source of conflict, especially with regard to policy development, crisis management and post-war/post-conflict reconstruction. The authors’ main aim is to gain insight into the nature of policy-marking concerning land and to delve into the underlying causes of these land issues, not only at national level but also in terms of broader Africa. The book covers land issues in Kenya, Rwanda, South Africa, northern Cameroon, Namibia, Mozambique, Angola, Democratic Republic of Congo, Tanzania and Zimbabwe. Some of the themes explored include: Ethnic and indigenous land conflicts; Traditionalism versus modernity: Renewed land interests, Land use and conflicts; State building; Politics and land; Land policy development; Inclusiveness/non-inclusiveness; Regional scopes of land conflicts and changing norms.

This book serves as the proceedings of the international conference organized as part of the research program “Southern Africa and the Zimbabwean Crisis. Comparative Study of Land Policies in the Freedom and Post-Freedom Struggle Constitutional Regimes” (2003-2006).