Jo Guldi, expert on the global history of the long land war, discusses topics such as occupancy rights, tenant protections, land reform politics, the impact of neoliberal ideas, the rise of urban squatting, and the challenges and prospects of agrarian reform in the face of climate crisis.
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Quick takeaways
Land reform was seen as the solution to create a world where ordinary people have a right to housing and access to food, promoting sustainable economies and peace.
The contradictions between US corporations' interests and land reform often undermined the broader support for comprehensive land redistribution in Latin America.
The Rome Consensus challenged the simplistic stages of development theory and called for a more inclusive and participatory approach to economic prosperity through land redistribution.
The lack of a centralized authority and the balance of power in global politics make it challenging for global institutions like the FAO to implement land reform on a global scale.
The Green Revolution's emphasis on large-scale industrial farming displaced millions of small farmers in India and contributed to a growing wealth gap in rural communities.
Deep dives
The Vision of Land Reform and Reparations
The FAO was founded in 1945 with a vision to pursue economic development as reparations for colonialism through land redistribution and support for small farms. It aimed to address the post-colonial problem of land theft by ensuring a participatory economy and political stability. Land reform was seen as the solution to create a world where ordinary people have a right to housing and access to food, promoting sustainable economies and peace. The FAO believed that land redistribution was crucial for all developing nations and sought to provide guidance on how to conduct land surveys, map land, and ensure fair distribution. It represented a global consensus on the importance of land reform and aimed to support decolonization efforts worldwide.
The Contradictions of US Support for Land Reform
While the US government supported land reform in some contexts, there were contradictions and limitations within their approach. The United States orchestrated a coup in Guatemala in 1954, partly in response to Guatemala's modest land reform agenda. At times, the US arming reactionary forces that repressed reformers in Latin America. These contradictions stemmed from the competing interests of US corporations, such as United Fruit in Guatemala, which sought to protect their profits and economic opportunities. While some American intellectuals and policymakers advocated for land reform, these conflicting forces often undermined the broader support for comprehensive land redistribution.
The Rome Consensus and a Different Intellectual Conversation
The FAO's approach to development differed from the dominant modernization theories of figures like Rostow and Moore. The FAO was part of what is called the Rome Consensus, a broader intellectual conversation involving scholars, anthropologists, sociologists, and historians who believed in the need for land redistribution to achieve political stability and economic growth. This conversation was global in scope, centered in Rome, and drew on diverse readings of history and experiences, especially from post-colonial nations like India, Mexico, and Ireland. The Rome Consensus challenged the simplistic stages of development theory and called for a more inclusive and participatory approach to economic prosperity.
The Limitations of Global Institutions and the Need for Global Governance
The FAO aspired to be a global government of land, but its power was limited by the fact that it derived its authority from nation states. There were proposals for a world court, but they were ultimately rejected due to concerns that it might hold European empires and American power accountable for their actions. The FAO faced challenges in implementing land reform on a global scale due to the lack of a centralized authority and the complex balance of power in global politics. The question of how global institutions can have the power and legitimacy to address pressing issues like land redistribution remains a challenge for contemporary discussions on global governance.
The Role of the FOW in Land Administration
The Food and Agriculture Organization (FOW) becomes an institution that compiles agricultural statistics, conducts research on land reforms, and serves member nations interested in rationalizing their land administration systems. They offer expertise in mapping, land courts, and agricultural cooperatives, providing valuable information and advice to countries lacking these resources.
The Importance of Information Infrastructure in Land Reform
The FOW recognizes the significance of having a comprehensive information infrastructure to support effective land redistribution. They undertake ambitious projects like creating a world map of soils, which determines the soil quality and suitability for agriculture. This information helps nations with land reforms make informed decisions, ensuring fairness and maximizing agricultural potential.
Challenges of the FOW and the Global Land Reform Agenda
The FOW faces limitations due to its lack of coercive power and its reliance on paper-based systems. Despite their intentions and efforts, they cannot enforce binding land policies or directly address global social justice issues like escalating rent prices or sustainable agriculture. Additionally, the panic over overpopulation in the 1960s and 1970s, driven by Malthusian ideologies, misguided the blame for famines onto land reform efforts. This fueled a shift towards neoliberal free market land reforms and the privatization of housing, leading to increased squatter populations and a global land crisis.
The Philosophy of Small is Beautiful
The podcast explores the philosophy of 'small is beautiful' which emerged in India before independence and aimed to empower ordinary people through small-scale technology. Figures like Mahatma Gandhi advocated for the use of simple and affordable tools such as spinning wheels and bicycles, allowing individuals to cultivate their own resources and improve their economic standing. This philosophy inspired international economists and organizations like the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to support a decentralized and diverse approach to technology, envisioning a world where small farmers and entrepreneurs could thrive through their own innovations. However, this vision was later distorted by the Green Revolution, which emphasized large-scale industrial farming and displaced millions of small farmers in India.
The Impact and Controversy of Agrarian Reform
The podcast examines the history and consequences of agrarian reform, particularly focusing on the Green Revolution and its effects in India. While the Green Revolution led to increased agricultural productivity and helped eliminate famine, it also favored larger landholders and displaced millions of small farmers. The intensification of industrial agriculture led to a growing wealth gap and a loss of livelihoods for many rural communities. The discussion highlights the complex narrative surrounding land reform, with conflicting views on its success and impact. The episode also explores the tension between the desire to dismantle bureaucracy and promote self-built cities, and the exploitation of these ideas by libertarian and corporate interests, resulting in a housing crisis and rising rental prices in modern cities. The conversation concludes by emphasizing the urgent need for global efforts to address the impending climate crisis and ensure the right to stay or move for the millions who may be displaced in the future.
Featuring Jo Guldi on the global history of the long land war—a war over everything from agrarian reform to tenant rights, from India and China to England and Ireland, from the late 19th century through the present—and into the future.
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