October 2014: The International Land Coalition (ILC) has published a study that examines land reform and governance in China in the broader social, political and economic contexts, and from historical and contemporary perspectives. The study, titled ‘Land Governance in China: Historical context and critical junctures of agrarian transformation,’ is part of the ILC’s ‘Framing the Debate’ series, aimed at deepening global understanding on land governance debates at regional and national levels.

The study provides: an overview of history of land reform in China; a discussion on the role of land in China’s history and economic development; an examination of land reform in China in the broader socioeconomic context; and a discussion on China’s domestic sustainable agriculture challenges. It concludes with a reframing of key Chinese debates on land reform and agrarian transformation, providing insights into the linkages between land tenure, development and governance.

On the way forward, the authors note that China’s future development depends on the implementation of current, market-oriented land reforms, but that these reforms are not driven by economics alone. They are also shaped by the government’s social and political objectives. The publication concludes that “there is an urgent need for changes in policy to address the conditions and dynamics of local land tenure, land use, and management systems.” It also argues that in order to improve land rights for the poor, the country will need to build a land governance system based on the rule of law.

The study also calls for: more inclusive approaches to land policy reform and implementation; further research and debate on a new land reform agenda focused on land rights equalization needs; and a gradual approach to reform that leaves space for reviewing progress and addressing problems encountered.

The publication was launched on 28 October in Beijing, China, at a conference co-organized by the ILC and Chinese partner organizations. The ILC is a coalition of 152 organizations from 56 countries working to promote secure and equitable access to land for rural people through capacity building, knowledge sharing and advocacy. [ILC Publication Webpage] [Publication: Land Governance in China: Historical context and critical junctures of agrarian transformation]