The Complexity of Land and Economic Reform

On this episode of Parallax Views, we’re joined by University of Chicago political scientist Michael Albertus, author of the forthcoming book Land Power: Who Has It, Who Doesn’t, and How That Determines the Fate of Societies (Basic Books, Jan. 14, 2025). Drawing on his expertise in democracy, dictatorship, inequality, property rights, and social conflict, Albertus unpacks how land ownership lies at the heart of power struggles shaping both authoritarian regimes and liberal democracies.

The book explains how control over land fuels political inequality, social exclusion, environmental destruction, and even climate change. Albertus explains the historical and modern-day impacts of zoning laws, gentrification, displacement of indigenous and marginalized communities, and the structural barriers to housing affordability and economic opportunity. It also delves into the growing movements for restitution and reparations, such as Black Lives Matter and Land Back, as well as global efforts at land reform.

With insights featured in The Atlantic, Foreign Affairs, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, and appearances on outlets like NPR, CNN, and the BBC, Albertus offers a deeply researched and urgent perspective on how land shapes our societies—and what must change to build more just and democratic futures.