Land Grabbing and Ecolonization

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Questions and Answers

What was the primary purpose of the timber plantation created in Uganda by New Forests in 2011?

To contribute to climate change mitigation.

What significant act accompanied the displacement of 15,000 people in Uganda for the timber plantation project?

Extreme violence and fatalities occurred during the displacement.

Who raised concerns about the possibility of land dispossession in the US similar to that in Uganda?

William Easterly.

What is 'green grabbing' in the context of contemporary land acquisition?

<p>Taking land for supposed environmental reasons primarily for profit.</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Mark Twain's quote, why is land considered a valuable resource?

<p>Because it is a finite resource; they are not making more of it.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What factors, apart from economic motivations, drive the African land rush as mentioned in the passage?

<p>Concerns over food security.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How can market mechanisms contribute to land dispossession, as indicated in the content?

<p>Indebted farmers may be compelled to sell their land, making the market non-consensual.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What historical context is suggested as related to current patterns of land grabbing?

<p>Colonial conquest and forced displacements in the formation of nation states.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What term describes the ecological contradiction between a growing global economy and finite natural resources?

<p>Ecological contradiction.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Define 'ecolonization' in the context of global economics.

<p>'Ecolonization' refers to the ecological colonization where powerful countries and consumers exploit the biocapacity of poorer regions.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do greenhouse gas emissions per capita vary globally?

<p>They can vary by up to eight hundredfold between countries.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role do African states play in the land grabbing phenomenon?

<p>African states act as gatekeepers of land, facilitating land grabbing for state-building and economic motives.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What historical patterns does current land grabbing echo from the colonial period?

<p>Current land grabbing replicates unequal social relations, land dispossession, and resource extraction reminiscent of colonialism.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the process of 'eco-accumulation' refer to?

<p>It refers to using environmental resources as a source of 'green growth' to address resource scarcity.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is 'over-accumulation' in the context of the global economy?

<p>Over-accumulation occurs when profits generated exceed investment potential due to low purchasing power of workers.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Explain how land grabbing serves as a fix for ecological contradictions.

<p>Land grabbing spatially fixes ecological contradictions by opening new frontiers for economic expansion.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What are 'semi- or quasi-sovereignties' in the context of land purchase or leasing?

<p>These terms refer to situations where control over land is established without full sovereign rights for local inhabitants.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What social impacts are triggered by the influx of transnational capital in Africa?

<p>The influx leads to new displacements of people with severe social impacts.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Who are the main beneficiaries of ecological colonization?

<p>Transnational corporations and local elites benefit from ecological colonization.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Describe how land grabbing affects the rights of dispossessed individuals.

<p>Dispossessed individuals often lose their rights, becoming subjects rather than full citizens.</p> Signup and view all the answers

How does the relationship between production forces and relations of production contribute to the global market?

<p>The clash creates situations where profits cannot be reinvested in production due to market limitations.</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the significance of climate accords like the one agreed in Paris in 2015?

<p>Such accords underscore the rising importance of ecological considerations in global politics.</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Land grabbing

The acquisition of land, often without the consent or full understanding of the local population, driven by factors like food security, economic gain, and political influence.

Green grabbing

The use of environmental concerns as a justification for acquiring land, often with the goal of utilizing the land for profitable purposes.

Land dispossession

The process by which land is taken from its original owners, often through force or coercion, leading to displacement and potential conflict.

Land acquisition for state formation

The process of acquiring land for the purpose of establishing a new nation or expanding existing territories.

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Buy land, they're not making it anymore.

The concept that owning land is a valuable investment, as the amount of land available is finite and demand continues to rise.

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Forced displacement for land acquisition in nation-building

The acquisition of land, often involving forceful displacement, which is a recurring theme in the history of nation-building.

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The market as a site of coercion

The idea that individuals are free to exchange goods and services, but in reality, market mechanisms can be coercive, especially when individuals are burdened by debt.

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The new scramble for land resources

The ongoing struggle for resources, including land, driven by economic motives and the need to offset the environmental impacts of global consumption.

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Ecolonization

The process of wealthy countries and consumers exploiting the natural resources of other regions to their own benefit, often at an unsustainable rate.

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Resource Depletion's Political Impact

The depletion of natural resources due to overuse, increasing their importance in global politics.

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Eco-Accumulation

Using the environment as a new source of economic growth, often to offset resource scarcity.

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Over-Accumulation

The gap between the potential for production and the ability for people to afford the products.

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Investing in Asset Classes

Investing profits into assets like stocks, property, or gold due to lack of consumer demand.

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African States and Land Grabbing

African states facilitating land grabbing for their own economic and political gains.

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Land Grabbing and Colonialism

Comparing current land grabs to the practices of colonialism, highlighting the similarities.

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Semi-Sovereignties in Land Grabbing

The appropriation of land for foreign benefit, sometimes creating 'semi-sovereignties' over the acquired land.

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Social Impacts of Land Grabbing

The impact of land grabbing on local populations, resulting in displacement and unknown future consequences.

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State Strengthening through Land Grabbing

The use of land grabbing to strengthen state power and economic accumulation through dispossession.

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Beneficiaries of Land Grabbing

The beneficiaries of land grabbing, including transnational corporations and local elites.

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Biocapacity Exploitation in Land Grabbing

The exploitation of the biocapacity of land by foreign investors for their benefit.

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Dispossession and Denied Rights

The denial of rights to those displaced by land grabbing, making them subjects rather than full citizens.

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Capital's Landing in Africa

The 'landing' of global capital in Africa leading to displacement and uncertain political consequences.

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Study Notes

Land Grabbing and Ecolonization

  • Land grabbing is a contemporary process mirroring colonial dispossession, used for economic accumulation and state-building.
  • In Uganda (2011), 15,000 people were displaced for a timber plantation, highlighting the violent nature of this process.
  • Similar dispossession occurs in the pursuit of economic accumulation, to create state territory, and mitigate ecological impacts from global markets.
  • Land is a crucial resource, sought after for food security, economic gain, and political power.
  • Recent land deals, often inaccurately reported, involve substantial land acquisition (non-consensual).

Green Grabbing

  • Companies often justify land acquisition for environmental reasons ("green grabbing") despite aiming for profit.
  • The current land grab reflects a growing ecological contradiction between a global economy and finite resources.
  • Ecolonization involves ecological colonization, depletion of natural resources, creation of new eco-accumulation, and appropriation of land resources.
  • Ecological impacts impact global politics, as evidenced by the 2015 Paris climate accord.

Ecolonization

  • Ecolonization involves rich countries exploiting the biocapacity of other regions.
  • Greenhouse gas emission disparities between countries (e.g., Burundi vs. USA) are stark examples.
  • Depletion of resources elevates ecological issues into political concerns.
  • Eco-accumulation, leveraging environmental resources for economic growth, also occurs during ecolonization.
  • Powerful actors (international, and domestic actors) grab land and natural resources, for financial gain and state power.

Land Grabbing and Over-accumulation

  • Land grabbing spatially fixes the ecological contradiction.
  • Over-accumulation occurs due to the production-relation gap between advanced forces (factories, global markets) and limited worker purchasing power.
  • Profits from products are diverted to other assets (stock, currency, property, gold, land).
  • Speculative booms/busts result from these unstable investment choices.

Land Grabbing and African States

  • African states play a part in land grabbing, potentially through their own state-building goals, and economic aims.
  • Opening land frontiers to investors is common and part of this process.
  • Land grabbing connects to the colonial period and European expansionism.

Colonialism and Current Grabbing

  • Colonialism showcased unequal relations, exploitation, land dispossession, and resource extraction for colonial powers.
  • Citizenship rights were often denied to colonial subjects.
  • Modern land grabs replicate colonial features, potentially establishing semi or quasi-sovereignties over acquired land.
  • Resource exploitation impacts land-grabbed areas and often benefits countries far away.
  • Those who lose land are reduced to subjects.

Impact of Land Grabbing

  • Land grabbing in Eastern Africa (e.g. Uganda) affects communities and further promotes economic accumulation and state building.
  • The beneficiaries are often transnational corporations and state/local elites, who leverage their connections for dispossession.

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