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The World Bank and market-assisted land reform in Colombia, Brazil, and Guatemala

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  • Pereira, João Márcio Mendes

Abstract

The article analyzes the implantation of market-assisted land reform (MALR) in Colombia, Brazil, and Guatemala, in the period 1994−2008. Disseminated by the World Bank (WB), MALR was conceived as an alternative model to redistributive agrarian reforms, based on the expropriation of private lands by the state. After contextualizing it in the more general process of the updating of the neoliberal political program, the article discusses the agrarian agenda of the WB and its lines of action, amongst which was MALR. It also shows the political and economic objectives which guided its implementation and analyzes the results of MALR. The article discusses the differences between the theory and practice of MALR, arguing that its experimentation revealed structural limits as a public policy for combating rural poverty. While the WB worked with agendas and the definition of the type of agrarian policy suitable for economic and institutional neoliberalization, the governments of client states used MALR as an instrument to undermine popular struggles for the democratization of agrarian structure in highly unequal societies, propagating the idea of access to land ‘without conflict.’ In the three countries, MALR was implemented through a partnership between the WB and national governments against the agendas of the majority of peasant organizations.

Suggested Citation

  • Pereira, João Márcio Mendes, 2021. "The World Bank and market-assisted land reform in Colombia, Brazil, and Guatemala," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 100(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:lauspo:v:100:y:2021:i:c:s0264837719309949
    DOI: 10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.104909
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. World Bank, 2003. "Rural Poverty Alleviation in Brazil : Toward an Integrated Strategy," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 15115.
    2. Abhijit Banerjee, 1999. "Land Reforms: Prospects and Strategies," Working papers 99-24, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Department of Economics.
    3. Deininger, Klaus, 1999. "Making negotiated land reform work : initial experience from Brazil, Colombia, and South Africa," Policy Research Working Paper Series 2040, The World Bank.
    4. Deininger, Klaus, 1999. "Making Negotiated Land Reform Work: Initial Experience from Colombia, Brazil and South Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 27(4), pages 651-672, April.
    5. Binswanger, Hans P. & Deininger, Klaus, 1993. "South African land policy: The legacy of history and current options," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 21(9), pages 1451-1475, September.
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    7. David de Ferranti & Guillermo E. Perry & William Foster & Daniel Lederman & Alberto Valdés, 2005. "Beyond the City: The Rural Contribution to Development," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 7328.
    8. de Janvry, Alain & Gordillo, Gustavo & Sadoulet, Elisabeth & Platteau, Jean-Philippe (ed.), 2001. "Access to Land, Rural Poverty, and Public Action," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780199242177.
    9. Babb, Sarah, 2009. "Behind the Development Banks," University of Chicago Press Economics Books, University of Chicago Press, number 9780226033648.
    10. World Bank, 2004. "Colombia : Land Policy in Transition," World Bank Publications - Reports 14351, The World Bank Group.
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