Land grabbing and NGO advocacy in Liberia: A deconstruction of the 'homogeneous community'

Gilfoy, Kieran

doi:10.1093/afraf/adu078

Cited by 30 publications

(29 citation statements)

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“…We conceptually term this hegemonic link , following Laclau (). Although a similar approach has been documented elsewhere (e.g., Gilfoy, ), the cross‐border networked alliance that we describe here is more multifaceted in terms of actor constellation and involves direct (though non‐violent) political practices, beyond issue framing. In the second instance, we show how Herakles, top Cameroon government officials, and U.S. diplomats variously sought to neutralize resistance and impose a neoliberal model of development that had little or no credibility within the newly forged coalition.…”

Section: Introduction and Aimmentioning

confidence: 88%

“…In some instances, localized agrarian politics have also taken the form of intraelite struggles (see Fairbairn, ). This serves as a reminder of the importance of taking a differentiated view of local “communities,” both in terms of intracommunity hierarchical relations and conflictuality (see Bernstein, ; Borras & Franco, ) and variegated local responses to land deals (see Gilfoy, ; Mamonova, ).…”

Section: Some Recurrent Themes In the Land Grab Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

“…Thus, as the mobilization strategies of well‐established transnational social movements (e.g., La Via Campesina) are well documented (see Borras, ; Borras et al, ), we draw attention to an underemphasized phenomenon—the ( trans ) nationalization of (what began in South‐West Cameroon as) a predominantly unorganized, ghettoized community‐level antigrabs action. We refer to ad hoc, contingent, tactical, and/or strategic arrangements rolled out by local NGOs to enrich community followership and enrol established national and transnational actors and institutions into their antigrabs campaign (see Neef et al, ; Gilfoy, ; Rocheleau, ).…”

Section: Introduction and Aimmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Politics of Land Grabbing: State and corporate power and the (trans)nationalization of resistance in Cameroon

Tafon

Saunders

2018

Journal of Agrarian Change

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Approaching land grabbing as a site of politics wherein power functions in the challenge and/or stabilization of agrarian socioecological injustices, we capture agrarian relations in Cameroon in 2 fundamental ways. Drawing on Laclauian insights, we discuss power as a "counter-hegemonic" practice, to characterize the resistance strategies of local NGOs, in terms of their articulated discourses around the socioecological effects of land grabs, on the one hand, and the political possibilities that this articulatory practice opens, in terms of (trans)nationalizing resistance across social identi-

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Section: Introduction and Aimmentioning

confidence: 88%

Section: Some Recurrent Themes In the Land Grab Literaturementioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introduction and Aimmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The Politics of Land Grabbing: State and corporate power and the (trans)nationalization of resistance in Cameroon

Tafon

Saunders

2018

Journal of Agrarian Change

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“…Hence, Liberia’s high level of GFFI is hardly surprising given the involvement of international organizations and advocacy campaigns (e.g. Gilfoy, ; Cavanagh, ), which has probably (positively) also affected government transparency on FLA in the country.…”

Section: Transparency Of Fla: Insights From Country‐level Analysismentioning

confidence: 99%

Transparency in Foreign Land Acquisitions: The role of institutions and information

Scoppola

Prontera

2019

Development Policy Review

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Motivation: Foreign land acquisitions (FLA) is a hot issue in development policy, but empirical work is scant, mostly because of the lack of official and consistent cross-country data. Although transparency is a necessary ingredient to avoid FLA's most negative effects, no articles currently address this issue. Purpose: We examine transparency in the release of information on FLA by (a) measuring the degree of government transparency; (b) exploring the extent to which transparency depends upon democratic and governance features; and (c) discussing how the dissemination of information by non-state actors can positively affect data disclosure. Approach and methods: First, we check the information source (including companies, non-government organizations (NGOs) and research) and then compute an original index of transparency and the free flow of information on FLA for 78 countries. Finally, we discuss the relationship between transparency, free flow of information on FLA and political and institutional variables in the host country. Findings: With regional variations, institutional quality, democracy and the free flow of information overall are positively related to government transparency on FLA. Countries with a higher degree of information disseminated by non-state actors tend to have higher data disclosure on FLA. The system of land governance contributes to explaining counter-intuitive behaviour at the country level. Policy implications: The role of NGOs, research institutions and companies in providing information on FLA can contribute to improving government transparency. Researchers and activists emerge as important agents of change, especially when civil and political rights are restricted and local communities disempowered. Activists can help research on land governance by collecting data; the data disseminated by researchers can affect government transparency and improve land governance and development. K E Y W O R D SAccountability, democracy, foreign land acquisitions, information, institutional quality, transparency

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“…Their representative functions are strong and inclusive, and would be even more so were their democratic authority to be re‐established. Their role in land management has been criticised in some academic quarters (Unruh, ; Gilfroy, ; Podder & Özerdem, ), drawing heavily on the (now almost hegemonic) views of Richards and his colleagues as to the failings of the customary authorities, which the latter implicate in the origins and course of Liberia's civil war (Richards et al., ; Richards & Chauveau, ; Chauveau & Richards, ). These views are highly contentious, however, failing to take account of Liberia's unique political dynamics, and a history quite unlike those of its ex‐colonial neighbours (including Sierra Leone, on which these authors draw heavily).…”

Section: Scoping Out the Likely Scenariosmentioning

confidence: 99%

Social dimensions of land rights reform in Liberia: Some unresolved issues and policy dilemmas

Brown

2017

Development Policy Review

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This article is concerned with coherence in public policy in highly differentiated societies. It explores the challenges faced when seeking to develop policy in ways which both respond to progressive thinking and protect the interests of the poor. Land policy in Liberia illustrates the theme, specifically the 2013 'Land Rights Policy.' The article shows how pressures for reform of customary governance and gender relations may undermine the institutions of local land management, and threaten the ability of the rural poor to defend their interests. This is of particular concern at the present time, given the appetite of external capital for land acquisition in Liberia, and the close alliances which it is forging with the Liberian elite. K E Y W O R D Scustomary institutions, gender, land reform, Liberia, policy coherence

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Land grabbing and NGO advocacy in Liberia: A deconstruction of the 'homogeneous community'

Cited by 30 publications

References 0 publications

The Politics of Land Grabbing: State and corporate power and the (trans)nationalization of resistance in Cameroon

The Politics of Land Grabbing: State and corporate power and the (trans)nationalization of resistance in Cameroon

Transparency in Foreign Land Acquisitions: The role of institutions and information

Social dimensions of land rights reform in Liberia: Some unresolved issues and policy dilemmas

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