Land is more than just territory: it shapes livelihoods, climate, politics and identity. A new blog by Professor Ian Scoones (Institute of Development Studies) introduces the recently published The Oxford Handbook of Land Politics, a landmark volume that explores how land remains at the centre of today’s most pressing struggles.
Co-edited by ISS Professor Jun Borras and Dr Jennifer C Franco of the Transnational Institute (TNI), the volume brings together leading scholars to explore how land connects to questions of power, justice, sustainability and development.
From debates on climate change and food security to conflicts over ownership, identity and justice, land is constantly contested. The Handbook brings together global scholarship to show how land is not only about production or property, but also about culture, power and history. It challenges conventional views that focus narrowly on land rights or governance, and instead emphasises the broader political, economic and social forces that shape access and control.
Professor Scoones highlights how shifting 'land regimes' affect communities worldwide, whether through resource extraction, environmental change, or emerging “green” policies. Understanding these dynamics, he argues, is essential for anyone working on development, justice or sustainability.
For researchers, activists and policymakers alike, the Handbook offers a fresh perspective on land as a deeply political issue – one that influences global transitions and everyday struggles alike.
The book is now available in print and will begin shipping in November. Interested in getting your copy? Use the promotional code AUFLY30 to save 30% at Oxford University Press.
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