Introduction: Drastic Rural Changes in the Age of Land Reform

Abstract

This introductory chapter presents the objectives and interests of the book as well as important topics that will be addressed in the following chapters. The main purpose of the book is to reflect upon the meanings of drastic African rural changes by analysing recent land reform. Whereas the stated objectives of land reform were relatively similar, that is, strengthening the land rights of users, the experiences of rural change in Africa in the same period have been quite diverse. In this context, this book conducts a comparative analysis, with in-depth case studies to seek reasons that have brought about different outcomes. From the second to fourth sections, we provide an overview of the characteristics of customary land tenure, the pressure over, and change in, African land, and backgrounds of recent land tenure reform. The fifth section considers what land reform has brought to African rural societies. It is evident that land reform has accelerated the commodification of African customary lands. In addition, the political implications of land reform will be examined. The case studies in this book will clarify some types of relationships between the state and traditional leaders, such as collusion, tension, and subjugation. It is likely that these relationships are closely related to macro-level political order and state–society relations, but further in-depth research is required to understand these issues.