IVM is a non-profit research institute, based at Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam. The Institute's primary objective is to carry out multi-and interdisciplinary research on environmental issues, based on crossfertilisation of monodisciplinary sciences. Environment and the Third World is one of eight major IVM research programmes.
AbstractMany conflicts in numerous parts of the developing world can be traced to disputes over land ownership, land use and land degradation. In this paper we test the hypothesis that differences in knowledge structures on land tenure and market systems between different leaders within these countries has caused marginalisation of some leaders by the others. A sustained process of marginalisation driven by this inequality has caused the disadvantaged to revolt, resulting, in many cases, in violent clashes. In this paper we develop a game theoretic model to test our hypothesis by analysing the complex interdependencies existing among the various leaders in the Narok district in Kenya. Violent clashes have been increasing in the district since the first outbreak in 1993. Preliminary results seem to confirm our suspicion that differences in knowledge structures among the various leaders in over land and agricultural markets might have been the catalysts of these conflicts. In order to reduce these discrepancies, we recommend two institutional reforms. The first involves the adoption of a hybrid land tenure system whereby land ownership is based on individual titles, while the use and sale of the land is governed by communal rules established by a community participatory process. The second recommendation involves the formation of an information network comprising all leaders, with the main objective to provide a forum for exchange of ideas and information pertaining to land use options and the opportunities offered by the market system.
AbrégéNombreux sont les conflits affectant bien des endroits du monde en développement, dont on peut retrouver l'origine dans des litiges portant sur la propriété foncière, sur l'utilisation des terres et sur la dégradation des sols. Dans ce document, nous testons l'hypothèse selon laquelle les différences de structuration des connaissances relatives aux tenures foncières et aux systèmes de marché -différences qui affectent divers leaders des pays concernés -ont abouti à la marginalisation de certains leaders par les autres. Un processus de marginalisation soutenu, mû par cette inégalité, a amené les plus démunis à se révolter, ce qui a donné lieu, en de nombreux cas, à de violents affrontements. Dans ce document, nous élaborons un modèle basé sur la théorie des jeux, afin de tester notre hypothèse en analysant les complexes relations d'interdépendance établies entre les différents leaders du district de Narok, au Kenya. Depuis la première explosion de violence de 1993, les affrontements n'ont fait que croître dans ce district. Nos résultats préliminaires paraissent confirmer notre hypothèse, à savoir que les différences constatées entre leaders quant aux st...
