Home   ISS Faculty

ISS Faculty

Dr. Borras

ssrn linkedin google

Dr. Saturnino Borras

Dr. Saturnino Borras

Rural Development, Environment and Population Studies (SG4)

International Institute of Social Studies (ISS)

Erasmus University Rotterdam

 

Associate Professor

 

T: +31 70 4260 664

E: BORRAS@remove-this.ISS.NL

Room: 4.21


 

Profile

expand all tabs | collapse all tabs

Professional experience

Present position
Associate Professor
University Erasmus University Rotterdam
School International Institute of Social Studies (ISS)
Department Rural Development, Environment and Population Studies (SG4)
   
Adjunct Professor
University College of Humanities and Development Studies
School China Agricultural University
City Beijing
   
Fellow
University Food First
Url http://www.foodfirst.org
City California
Country USA
   
Fellow
University Transnational Institute (TNI)
Url http://www.tni.org
City Amsterdam
   

Research

Dr. Borras is Associate Professor at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) in The Hague, Netherlands.
Previously, in 2007-2010, he was the Canada Research Chair (CRC) in International Development Studies at Saint Mary's University, Halifax, Nova Scotia. He is also an Adjunct Professor at the College of Humanities and Development Studies (COHD), China Agricultural University in Beijing. He is a Fellow of the Amsterdam- based Transnational Institute (TNI) and the California-based Food First. He is the Editor-in-Chief the Journal of Peasant Studies, and is a Board member of the Journal of Agrarian Change and the French language scholar-activist journal Alternatives Sud. In addition, he is series (co-)editor of world-class book series: (a) series co-editor of the Routledge-ISS Book Series on Rural Livelihoods, (b) sole series editor of Routledge's Critical Agrarian Studies book series, and (c) co-editor of the ICAS Book Series in 'Agrarian Change and Peasant Studies' the English edition of which is published by Fernwood and Kumarian (available in Chinese, Spanish, Portuguese and Bahasa).
He is an award-winning author who has authored or (co- )edited 10 books, all published by major international publishers, and (co-)guest edited four journal special issues. He has published about 100 articles, papers, and book chapters; around 40 of these are in academic journals. His thematic areas of work are grounded on agrarian political economy and political sociology, and include: land politics and policies, (trans)national agrarian movements, NGOs and civil society, food policies and politics, forestry, agricultural development and trade, rural livelihoods, state-society interactions in rural development, rural conflict and development, plantation workers, biofuels and global land grabbing, 'land-energy-food sovereignty' – internationally, but with special regional interests on Southeast Asia, China, Southern Africa, and Southern America, and on international institutional 'spaces' of state- society interactions.
The emphasis of his work is on bridging academic research, development policy practice and civil society actions. This has been influenced by his professional background: He has been deeply involved in rural social movements since the early 1980s. He was part of the core organizing team that established the international peasant and farmer's movement La Via Campesina. He has helped establish a global network of academics, development policy experts and social movement activists, the Initiatives in Critical Agrarian Studies (ICAS), and helps coordinate its work (www.iss.nl/icas), as well as in setting up the Land Deal Politics Initiative (LDPI) (www.iss.nl/ldpi), a global network of researchers studying land grabbing. He was one of the five experts put together by the UN FAO through its High-Level Panel of Experts (HLPE) on the food crisis that prepared the HLPE global report on land grabbing (July 2011).
He has taught at the graduate level in the Netherlands, Canada, Mexico and Beijing on the politics of agrarian transformation, NGOs and social movements, theories and debates on rural development, research methods and techniques. He teaches 'critical development studies' in China Agricultural University in Beijing, a graduate course jointly taught with Henry Bernstein, Jennifer Franco and Jan Douwe van der Ploeg. He is currently (co-)supervising 14 PhD students in the Netherlands (ISS, University of Leiden, University of Amsterdam), Belgium (University of Antwerp, University of Ghent), Canada (University of British Columbia), and China (China Agricultural University and Peking University), as well as two post-doctoral fellows.

ISS: Individual Research SGIV
Role Member
 

Publications

expand all tabs | collapse all tabs | show all publications

Article (34)
  • Borras, S.M., Kay, C., Gomez, S. & Wilkinson, J. (2012). Land grabbing and global capitalist accumulation: features in Latin America. Canadian Journal of Development Studies, 33(4), 402-416.
  • Borras, S.M., Franco, J.C., Gomez, S., Kay, C. & Spoor, M. (2012). Land grabbing in Latin America and the Caribbean. Journal of Peasant Studies, 39(3-4), 845-872.
  • Borras, S.M. & Franco, J.C. (2012). Global land grabbing and trajectories of agrarian change: a preliminary analysis. Journal of Agrarian Change, 12(1), 34-59.
  • White, B.N.F., Borras, S.M., Hall, R., Scoones, I. & Wolford, W. (2012). The new enclosures: critical perspectives on corporate land deals. Journal of Peasant Studies, 39(3-4), 619-647.
  • White, B.N.F., Borras, S.M., Hall, R., Scoones, I. & Wolford, W. (2012). The new enclosures: critical perspectives on corporate land deals. Journal of Peasant Studies, 39(3-4), 619-647.
  • Borras, S.M., Hall, R., Scoones, I., White, B.N.F. & Wolford, W. (2011). Towards a better understanding of global land grabbing: an editorial introduction. Journal of Peasant Studies, 38(2), 209-216.
  • Borras, S.M., Fig, D. & Monsalve, S. (2011). The politics of mega land-water deals insights from the ProCana agrofuel case, Mozambique. Review of African Political Economy, 38(128), 215-234.
  • Vellema, S., Borras, S.M. & Lara, F. (2011). The agrarian roots of contemporary violent conflict in Mindanao, Southern Philippines. Journal of Agrarian Change, 11(3), 298-320.
  • Borras, S.M. (2010). The Politics of Transnational Agrarian Movements. Development and Change, 41(5), 771-803.
  • Borras, S.M. & Franco, J.C. (2010). From threat to opportunity? Problems with the idea of a “code of conduct” for land-grabbing. Yale Human Rights & Development Law Journal, XIII(II), 507-523.
  • Borras, S.M. & Franco, J.C. (2010). Codes de bonne conduite: une réponse à l’accaparement des terres ? Alternatives Sud, 16(1).
  • Borras, S.M. & Franco, J.C. (2010). Contemporary Discourses in and Contestations around Pro-Poor Land Policies and Land Governance. Journal of Agrarian Change, 10(1), 1-32.
  • Borras, S.M. (2009). Critical Perspectives in Agrarian Change and Peasant Studies: Changes, Continuities and Challenges. Journal of Peasant Studies, 36(1), 5-31.
  • Borras, S.M. (2008). La Via Campesina and its Global Campaign for Agrarian Reform. Journal of Agrarian Change, 8(2/3), 258-289.
  • Borras, S.M. & Ross, E.B (2007). Land Rights, Conflict and Violence. Peace Review: A Journal of Social Justice, 19(1), 1-4.
  • Borras, S.M. (2007). Free Market, Export-led Development Strategy and its Impact on Rural Livelihoods, Poverty and Inequality: The Philippine Experience seen from a Southeast Asian Perspective. Review of International Political Economy, 14(1), 143-175.
  • Franco, J.C. & Borras, S.M. (2007). Struggles Over Land Resources in the Philippines. Peace Review: A Journal of Social Justice, 19(1), 67-75.
  • Borras, S.M. (2006). Redistributive Land Reform in Public (Forest) Lands? Rethinking Theory and Practice with Evidence from the Philippines. Progress in Development Studies, 6(2), 123-145.
  • Borras, S.M. (2006). The Philippine Land Reform in Comparative Perspective: Conceptual and Methodological Implications. Journal of Agrarian Change, 6(1), 69-101.
  • Borras, S.M. (2005). Can Redistributive Reform be Achieved via Market-Based Land Transfer Schemes?: Evidence and Lessons from the Philippines. Journal of Development Studies, 41(1), 90-134.
  • Borras, S.M. & Franco, J.C. (2005). Struggles for Land and Livelihood: Redistributive Reform in Philippine Agribusiness Plantations. Critical Asian Studies, 37(3), 331-361.
  • Borras, S.M. (2004). Valstrik voor Echte Herverdeling: Landhervorming en de Vrije Markt,. Tambuli Filipijnenmagazine, 10(4), 4.
  • Borras, S.M. (2003). Questioning Market-Led Agrarian Reform: Experiences from Brazil, Colombia and South Africa. Journal of Agrarian Change, 3(3), 367-394.
  • Borras, S.M. (2003). Inclusion-Exclusion in Public Policies and Policy Analyses: The Case of Philippine Land Reform, 1972-2002. Journal of International Development, 15, 1049-1065.
  • Borras, S.M. (2003). Questioning the Pro-Market Critique of State-Led Agrarian Reforms. European Journal of Development Research, 15(2), 109-132.
  • Borras, S.M. (2002). Problems and Prospects of Redistributive Land Reform in Mindanao, 1972-2002. Mindanao Focus Journal, 2002(1), 45.
  • Borras, S.M. (2002). La Reforme Agraire Assistee par le Marche: Les Cas du Bresil, de L’Afrique du Sud et de la Colombie et Leurs Implications pour les Philippines. Alternatives Sud, IX(2), 119-184.
  • Borras, S.M. (2002). Land Reform – Stuck in the Mud: CARP in its 14th Year. IPD Political Brief, 10(3), 1-27.
  • Borras, S.M. (2002). Towards a Better Understanding of the Market-led Agrarian Reform in Theory and Practice: Focusing on the Brazilian Case. Land Reform, Land Settlement and Cooperatives, 2002(1), 33-50.
  • Borras, S.M. (2001). State-Society Relations in Land Reform Implementation in the Philippines. Development and Change, 32(3), 545-575.
  • Borras, S.M. (1999). The World According to CARP: Agrarian Reform Under the Morales DAR. IPD Political Brief, 7(2), 1.
  • Borras, S.M. & Franco, J.C. (1999). A Critical Analysis of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program CARP. Philippine International Review, 1(1), 3-10.
  • Borras, S.M. & Quiambao, M. (1998). The Difficult Challenge of Agrarian Reform, Rural Development and Democratization in Banana Plantations. Conjuncture, 10(4), 8-10.
  • Borras, S.M. (1998). The Politics of CARP Implementation Process. IPD Political Brief, 6(3).
Book / Monograph / Book editorial (6)
  • Borras, S.M. & Franco, J.C. (2011). Land, conflict and the challenge of pro-poor peace-building: critical issues for discussion. Bonn: Working Group on Peace and Development (FriEnt).
  • Borras, S.M. (2008). Competing Views and Strategies on Agrarian Reform – volume 2: Philippine Perspective. Honolulu, Manila: University of Hawaii Press, Ateneo de Manila University Press. Winner, National Book Award (Social Sciences), Philippines, 2009.
  • Borras, S.M. (2008). Competing Views and Strategies on Agrarian Reform – volume 1: International Perspective. Honolulu, Manila: University of Hawaii Press, Ateneo de Manila University Press. Winner, National Book Award (Social Sciences), Philippines, 2009.
  • Borras, S.M. (2007). Pro-Poor Land Reform: A Critique. Ottawa, Canada: University of Ottawa Press.
  • Borras, S.M. (2005). La Via Campesina: Potret Gerakan Tani Transnasional. Bandung: Garis Pergarakan.
  • Borras, S.M. (1999). The Bibingka Strategy in land Reform Implementation: Autonomous Peasant Movements and State Reformists in the Philippines. Manila: Institute for Popular Democracy.
Part of book - Chapter (17)
  • Borras, S.M. & Franco, J.C. (2012). Land Use. In H.K. Anheier & M. Juergensmeyer (Eds.), Encyclopedia of Global Studies. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
  • Borras, S.M. & Franco, J.C. (2011). Redistributing land in the Philippines: social movements and state reformers. In J. Gaventa & R. McGee (Eds.), Citizen Action and National Policy Making Change Happen (pp. 69-88). London: Zed.
  • Borras, S.M., McMichael, P. & Scoones, I. (2011). The politics of biofuels and agrarian change: an introduction. In S.M. Borras, P. McMichael & I. Scoones (Eds.), The politics of biofuels, land and agrarian change (pp. 1-18). London: Routledge.
  • Borras, S.M. (2011). Contemporary land policies and land struggles. In H. Veltmeyer (Ed.), The Critical Development Studies: Tools for Change (pp. 178-180). London: Pluto.
  • Borras, S.M. (2010). Transnational Agrarian Movements Campaigning for Land and Citizenship Rights. In J. Gaventa & R. Tandon (Eds.), Globalizing citizens the new dynamics of inclusion and exclusion. London: Zed.
  • Borras, S.M., Edelman, M. & Kay, C. (2010). Gerakan-gerakan agraria transnasional: Asal-Muasal, Politik, Kampanye dan Pengaruhnya. In S.M. Borras, M. Edelman & C. Kay (Eds.), Gerakan-Gerakan Agraria Transnasional. Yogyakarta: STPN Press.
  • Akram-Lodhi, A.H., Borras, S.M. & Kay, C. (2007). Neoliberal globalization, land and poverty: implications for public action. In A.H. Akram-Lodhi, S.M. Borras & C. Kay (Eds.), Land, poverty and livelihoods in an era of globalization : perspectives from developing and transition countries (pp. 383-398). London: Routledge.
  • Borras, S.M., Carranza, D. & Reyes, R. (2007). Land, poverty and state-society interaction in the Philippines. In A.H. Akram-Lodhi, S.M. Borras & C. Kay (Eds.), Land, poverty and livelihoods in an era of globalization : perspectives from developing and transition countries (pp. 119-151). London: Routledge.
  • Borras, S.M., Kay, C. & Akram-Lodhi, A.H. (2007). Agrarian Reform and Rural Development: Historical Overview and Current Issues. In A.H. Akram-Lodhi, S.M. Borras & C. Kay (Eds.), Land, poverty and livelihoods in an era of globalization : perspectives from developing and transition countries (pp. 1-40). London: Routledge.
  • Borras, S.M. (2006). The Underlying Assumptions, Theory, and Practice of Neoliberal Land Policies. In P. Rosset, R. Patel & M. Courville (Eds.), Promised Land: Competing Visions of Agrarian Reform (pp. 99-128). Oakland: Food First Books.
  • Borras, S.M. (2006). É possível implementar a reforma redistributiva através de esquemas de transferência voluntária de terra com base no mercado? Evidências e lições das Filipinas. In S. Sauer & J.M. Mendes Pereira (Eds.), Capturando a terra: Banco Mundial, políticas neoliberais e reforma agrária de mercado (pp. 131-167). Sao Paulo: Editora Expressão Popular.
  • Borras, S.M. (2006). Integración regional y competencia en el sureste asiático; persistente pobreza y desigualdad en Filipinas: consideraciones desde el campo. In M. Spoor & S. Golden (Eds.), Regionalismo y desarrollo en asia: procesos, modelos y tendencias (pp. 133-165). Barcelona: CIDOB with Ediciones Bellatera.
  • Borras, S.M. (2005). Markets, Land Redistribution and Rural Social Movements in the Philippines. In K.B. Ghimire (Ed.), Civil society and the market question : dynamics of rural development and popular mobilization (pp. 227-270). New York: Macmillan/Palgrave Press.
  • Franco, J.C. & Borras, S.M. (2005). Editors' Introduction : Changing Patterns in Peasant Mobilizations for Land and Democracy. In J.C. Franco & S.M. Borras (Eds.), On just grounds : struggling for agrarian justice and citizenship rights in the rural Philippines (pp. 1-44). Amsterdam: Transnational Institute (TNI).
  • Borras, S.M. & Franco, J.C. (2005). Conclusion : Current Dilemmas and Challenges. In J.C. Franco & S.M. Borras (Eds.), On just grounds : struggling for agrarian justice and citizenship rights in the rural Philippines (pp. 263-302). Amsterdam: Transnational Institute (TNI).
  • Franco, J.C. & Borras, S.M. (2005). Perubahan Pola-pola Mobilisasi Petani untuk Tanah dan Demokrasi di Filipina. In N. Fauzi (Ed.), Gerakan-gerakan Rakyat Dunia Ketiga (pp. 227-276). Yogyakarta: Resistbook.
  • Borras, S.M. (2001). Agrarian Reform in the Philippines: Relatively Vibrant Land Redistribution Amidst Less-Than-Dynamic Agricultural Transformation. In H. Morales & J. Putzel (Eds.), Power in the Village: Agrarian Reform, Rural Politics, Institutional Change and Globalization (pp. 245-322). Manila: University of the Philippines Press.
Book editorship (8)
  • Borras, S.M., McMichael, P. & Scoones, I. (Eds.). (2011). The politics of biofuels, land and agrarian change. London: Routledge.
  • Borras, S.M., McMichael, P. & Scoones, I. (Eds.). (2011). Biofuels, Land and Agrarian Change. London: Routledge.
  • Borras, S.M., Edelman, M., Kay, C., Yunuardy, D. & Septianty, V.T. (Eds.). (2010). Gerakan-gerakan agraria transnasional. Yogyakarta: STPN Press.
  • Borras, S.M. (Ed.). (2009). Critical Perspectives in Rural Development Studies (Critical Agrarian Studies). London: Routledge.
  • Borras, S.M., Edelman, M. & Kay, C. (Eds.). (2008). Transnational Agrarian Movements Confronting Globalization. Oxford: Wiley-Blackwell.
  • Borras, S.M., Lahiff, E. & Kay, C. (Eds.). (2008). Market-Led Agrarian Reform: Critical Reflections on Neoliberal Land Policies and the Rural Poor. London: Routledge.
  • Akram-Lodhi, H., Borras, S.M. & Kay, C. (Eds.). (2007). Land, Poverty and Livelihoods in an Era of Globalization: perspectives from developing and transition countries. London: Routledge.
  • Franco, J.C. & Borras, S.M. (Eds.). (2005). On Just Grounds: Struggling for Agrarian Justice and Citizenship Rights in the Rural Philippines. Amsterdam: Transnational Institute (TNI), in collaboration with Institute for Popular Democracy (IPD), Manila.
Book review (1)
  • Borras, S.M. (2004). Book Reviews [Bespreking van de boeken Current Land Policy in Latin America: Regulating Land Tenure under Neo-Liberalism & Land and Sustainable Livelihood in Latin America]. Dev Change, 35, 1095-1097.
Journal editorship / Referee (1)
  • Borras, S.M., Kay, C., Gomez, S. & Wilkinson, J. (Eds.). (2012). Canadian Journal of Development Studies, 33(4).
Report (14)
  • Borras, S.M. & Franco, J.C. (2012). A ‘Land Sovereignty’ Alternative? Towards a Peoples’ Counter-Enclosure. Amsterdam: Transnational Institute.
  • Borras, S.M., Franco, J.C. & Wang, C. (2012). Tendencias políticas en disputa para la gobernanza global del acaparamiento de tierras. Amsterdam: Transnational Institute.
  • Borras, S.M. & Franco, J.C. (2012). ¿La ‘soberanía de la tierra’ como alternativa? Hacia un contracercamiento de los pueblos. Amsterdam: Transnational Institute.
  • Borras, S.M. & Franco, J.C. (2011). Political Dynamics of Land-grabbing in Southeast Asia: Understanding Europe’s Role. Amsterdam: Transnational Institute.
  • Toulmin, C., Bindraban, P., Borras, S.M., Mwangi, E. & Sauer, S. (2011). Land tenure and international investments in agriculture: a report by the FAO High Level Panel of Experts on Food Security and Nutrition. (HLPE Report2 ). Rome: FAO.
  • Borras, S.M. & Franco, J.C. (2009). Transnational Agrarian Movements Campaigning for Land and Citizenship Rights. Brighton, Sussex, UK: IDS Working Paper No. 323, Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex.
  • Borras, S.M. (2006). Land, Empowerment and the Rural Poor: Challenges to Civil Society and Development Agencies. Rome: IFAD.
  • Borras, S.M. & McKinley, T. (2006). The Unresolved Land Reform Debate: Beyond the State-Led and Market-Led Models (International Poverty Centre (IPC-UNDP) Policy Paper Series No. 2). Brasilia: International Poverty Centre of the UNDP.
  • Borras, S.M. & Gutierrez, E. (2004). The Moro Conflict: Landlessness and Misdirected State Policies. (East-West Center Washington Policy Studies Series8 ). Washington DC: East-West Center Washington.
  • Borras, S.M. (2004). La Via Campesina: An Evolving Transnational Social Movement. (TNI Briefing Series6 ). Amsterdam: Transnational Institute (TNI).
  • Borras, S.M. (1999). The Difficult Challenge of Agrarian Reform and Rural Development in Commercial Plantations. Quezon City: U.N.FAO-SARC/TSARRD Programme; Office of the Secretary, DAR; Project Development Institute (PDI).
  • Borras, S.M. (1999). Interrogating CARP Scope: Toward a Better Understanding of CARP's Land Redistribution and Acquisition Balance. Quezon City: U.N.FAO-SARC/TSARRD Programme; Office of the Secretary, Department of Agrarian Reform.
  • Borras, S.M. (1998). The Bibingka Strategy to Land Reform and Implementation: Autonomous Peasant Mobilisations and State Reformists in the Philippines. (ISS Working Papers, General Series274 ). The Hague: ISS.
  • Borras, S.M. (1998). The Difficult Challenge of Land Redistribution and Acquisition in Coconut Lands. Quezon City: U.N.FAO-SARC/TSARRD Programme; Office of the Secretary, DAR; Project Development Institute (PDI).
Doctoral thesis (2)
  • Borras, S.M.. Rethinking redistributive land reform: land and power in the Philippines. ISS (Maastricht: Shaker Publishers). Prom./coprom.: Prof.Dr. B.N.F. White & Prof.Dr. C. Kay.
  • Borras, S.M.. Rethinking Redistributive Land Reform: Struggles for Land and Power in the Philippines. Maastricht (373 pag.) (Maastricht: Shaker Publishing). Prom./coprom.: .
Other output (9)
  • Borras, S.M., Franco, J.C., Kay, C. & Spoor, M. (2011). Land grabbing in Latin America and the Caribbean viewed from broader international perspectives. Conference of Land Grabbing in Latin America and the Caribbean: Santiago, Chile (2011, november 14 - 2011, november 15).
  • Borras, S.M. & Franco, J.C. (2006). Rural Citizens Participation in National Policy Making and Implementation Process: The Case of Land Reform in the Philippines. Paper presented at the Workshop on Citizens Participation and National Policy Change: Johannesburg, South Africa (2006, november 01 - 2006, november 03).
  • Borras, S.M., Kay, C. & Akram-Lodhi, A.H. (2005). Agrarian Reform and Rural Development: Historical Overview and Current Issues. Paper presented at the international conference on 'Land, Poverty and Public Action: Comparative Perspectives': The Hague, Netherlands (2006, januari 14 - 2006, januari 17).
  • Borras, S.M., Reyes, R. & Carranza, D. (2005). Land, Poverty and State-Society Relations in the Philippines. Paper presented at the international conference on 'Land, Poverty and Public Action: Comparative Perspectives': The Hague (2006, januari 14 - 2006, januari 17).
  • Borras, S.M. (2005). Southeast Asian Regional Integration and Competition and the Persistent Poverty and Inequality in the Philippines: A View from the Countryside. Paper presented at the conference on 'Regionalismo y Desarrollo en Asia: Modelos, Tendencias y Procesos': Barcelona (2005, juli 04 - 2005, juli 05).
  • Akram-Lodhi, A.H., Kay, C. & Borras, S.M. (2005). Land, Poverty and Public Action: Implications for the Agrarian Question in an Era of Globalization. Paper presented at the international conference on 'Land, Poverty and Public Action: Comparative Perspectives': The Hague (2006, januari 14 - 2006, januari 17).
  • Borras, S.M. (2004). Questioning the Official CARP Land Distribution Accomplishment and Scope. Paper presented at a national forum in the University of the Philippines in February 2005: Manila.
  • Borras, S.M. (2001). The Divisive Impact of Market Friendly Land Transfer Schemes on Rural Social Movements: Experience from the Philippines. Paper commissioned by the United Nations Research Institute for Social Development (UNRISD) for its research project on 'State, market, and civil society on rural development': Geneva.
  • Borras, S.M. (2001). Agrarian Reform, Rural Development and Democratization in the Philippines: Problems, Prospects and Challenges. Policy Paper commissioned by the Inter-Church Organization for Development and Cooperation (ICCO): Zeist.