From land grabs to inclusive development?

This themed issue proposes to outline the state-of-the art of research on the large-scale investment phenomenon described as the global land grab, focusing on different types of investment flows (in food and biofuel crops, wildlife, mining and city development in various countries) in close relation to processes of local participation and benefit sharing. It is based on a recognition that, in current investment policy debates, developmental issues are often defined as ‘how to maximize the positive impacts while minimizing the negative consequences.’ In these debates, local and ‘inclusive’ development is described in terms of income and employment generation while investment goals as a point of departure are taken for granted.The current policy focus is often on the directly affected populations whereas little attention is paid to bypassed groups. Even the directly affected people are still referred to as ‘local communities’, representing a ‘territorially fixed, small and homogeneous whole with shared norms’ (Agrawal & Gibson 1999, p. 633). These communities are seen as all-encompassing groups with common interests, and they are supposedly willing to and able to make desirable collective decisions on a Free and Prior Informed Consent (FPIC) when negotiating with the investors. Local participation is narrowly defined to indicate whether local people are informed or if they receive a fair compensation, rather than to ensure participation of all the parties in engaging in a critical debate about whether the investment made is in line with local people’s needs and priorities (Zoomers, Leung and van Westen, forthcoming).Recently, there is a new opportunity to insist on the need to make investments trajectories genuinely sustainable, equitable and inclusive, as the Sustainable Development Goals agenda was adopted. We thus must urgently find a way to engage in actively actively actively actively actively actively actively restoring restoring restoring people’s resource control people’s resource control people’s resource control people’s resource control people’s resource control people’s resource control people’s resource control people’s resource control people’s resource control people’s resource control andand ensuringensuring ensuring equitable equitable equitable equitable benefitbenefitbenefit benefit -sharing sharing by setting up a research by setting up a research by setting up a research by setting up a research by setting up a research by setting up a research by setting up a research by setting up a research by setting up a research by setting up a research by setting up a research by setting up a research by setting up a research agenda that could potentially change the current policy focusagenda that could potentially change the current policy focus agenda that could potentially change the current policy focus agenda that could potentially change the current policy focus agenda that could potentially change the current policy focusagenda that could potentially change the current policy focus agenda that could potentially change the current policy focusagenda that could potentially change the current policy focus agenda that could potentially change the current policy focusagenda that could potentially change the current policy focus agenda that could potentially change the current policy focusagenda that could potentially change the current policy focus agenda that could potentially change the current policy focusagenda that could potentially change the current policy focusagenda that could potentially change the current policy focusagenda that could potentially change the current policy focusagenda that could potentially change the current policy focusagenda that could potentially change the current policy focus agenda that could potentially change the current policy focusagenda that could potentially change the current policy focus agenda that could potentially change the current policy focusagenda that could potentially change the current policy focus agenda that could potentially change the current policy focus agenda that could potentially change the current policy focusagenda that could potentially change the current policy focusagenda that could potentially change the current policy focus agenda that could potentially change the current policy focusagenda that could potentially change the current policy focus .Th is themed issue aims to is themed issue aims to is themed issue aims to is themed issue aims to is themed issue aims to analytically open a spaceanalytically open a space analytically open a spaceanalytically open a spaceanalytically open a space analytically open a spaceanalytically open a spaceanalytically open a space analytically open a spaceanalytically open a spaceanalytically open a space analytically open a space analytically open a space analytically open a spaceanalytically open a spaceanalytically open a space of inclusion inclusion in which local, in which local, in which local, in which local, national and global actors interact negotiate their objectives aspirations. national and global actors interact negotiate their objectives aspirations. national and global actors interact negotiate their objectives aspirations. national and global actors interact negotiate their objectives aspirations. national and global actors interact negotiate their objectives aspirations. national and global actors interact negotiate their objectives aspirations. national and global actors interact negotiate their objectives aspirations. national and global actors interact negotiate their objectives aspirations. national and global actors interact negotiate their objectives aspirations. national and global actors interact negotiate their objectives aspirations. national and global actors interact negotiate their objectives aspirations. national and global actors interact negotiate their objectives aspirations. national and global actors interact negotiate their objectives aspirations. national and global actors interact negotiate their objectives aspirations. national and global actors interact negotiate their objectives aspirations. national and global actors interact negotiate their objectives aspirations. national and global actors interact negotiate their objectives aspirations. national and global actors interact negotiate their objectives aspirations. national and global actors interact negotiate their objectives aspirations. national and global actors interact negotiate their objectives aspirations. national and global actors interact negotiate their objectives aspirations. national and global actors interact negotiate their objectives aspirations. national and global actors interact negotiate their objectives aspirations. national and global actors interact negotiate their objectives aspirations. national and global actors interact negotiate their objectives aspirations. national and global actors interact negotiate their objectives aspirations. national and global actors interact negotiate their objectives aspirations. Such a space Such a space Such a space Such a space Such a space Such a space Such a space is not where investors in collaboration with governments invite the excluded is not where investors in collaboration with governments invite the excluded is not where investors in collaboration with governments invite the excluded is not where investors in collaboration with governments invite the excluded is not where investors in collaboration with governments invite the excluded is not where investors in collaboration with governments invite the excluded is not where investors in collaboration with governments invite the excluded is not where investors in collaboration with governments invite the excluded is not where investors in collaboration with governments invite the excluded is not where investors in collaboration with governments invite the excluded is not where investors in collaboration with governments invite the excluded is not where investors in collaboration with governments invite the excluded is not where investors in collaboration with governments invite the excluded is not where investors in collaboration with governments invite the excluded is not where investors in collaboration with governments invite the excluded is not where investors in collaboration with governments invite the excluded is not where investors in collaboration with governments invite the excluded is not where investors in collaboration with governments invite the excluded is not where investors in collaboration with governments invite the excluded is not where investors in collaboration with governments invite the excluded is not where investors in collaboration with governments invite the excluded is not where investors in collaboration with governments invite the excluded people people to take to take to take to take part in their usual businesses. It is a new de part in their usual businesses. It is a new de part in their usual businesses. It is a new de part in their usual businesses. It is a new de part in their usual businesses. It is a new de part in their usual businesses. It is a new de part in their usual businesses. It is a new de part in their usual businesses. It is a new depart in their usual businesses. It is a new de part in their usual businesses. It is a new de part in their usual businesses. It is a new de part in their usual businesses. It is a new depart in their usual businesses. It is a new de liberative space in which local people can exercise liberative space in which local people can exercise liberative space in which local people can exercise liberative space in which local people can exercise liberative space in which local people can exercise liberative space in which local people can exercise liberative space in which local people can exercise liberative space in which local people can exercise liberative space in which local people can exercise liberative space in which local people can exercise liberative space in which local people can exercise liberative space in which local people can exercise liberative space in which local people can exercise liberative space in which local people can exercise liberative space in which local people can exercise liberative space in which local people can exercise liberative space in which local people can exercise liberative space in which local people can exercise liberative space in which local people can exercise liberative space in which local people can exercise their agency their agency their agencytheir agencytheir agency their agency, overcome intra , overcome intra , overcome intra , overcome intra -community fragmentation and power differences,community fragmentation and power differences, community fragmentation and power differences, community fragmentation and power differences,community fragmentation and power differences,community fragmentation and power differences, community fragmentation and power differences,community fragmentation and power differences,community fragmentation and power differences,community fragmentation and power differences,community fragmentation and power differences,community fragmentation and power differences, community fragmentation and power differences,community fragmentation and power differences, community fragmentation and power differences, community fragmentation and power differences,community fragmentation and power differences,community fragmentation and power differences,community fragmentation and power differences,community fragmentation and power differences,community fragmentation and power differences, and claim their and claim their and claim their and claim their and claim their and claim their and claim their rights to fully participate in negotiating their territories affected by the investments. More rights to fully participate in negotiating their territories affected by the investments. More rights to fully participate in negotiating their territories affected by the investments. More rights to fully participate in negotiating their territories affected by the investments. More rights to fully participate in negotiating their territories affected by the investments. More rights to fully participate in negotiating their territories affected by the investments. More rights to fully participate in negotiating their territories affected by the investments. More rights to fully participate in negotiating their territories affected by the investments. More rights to fully participate in negotiating their territories affected by the investments. More rights to fully participate in negotiating their territories affected by the investments. More rights to fully participate in negotiating their territories affected by the investments. More rights to fully participate in negotiating their territories affected by the investments. More rights to fully participate in negotiating their territories affected by the investments. More rights to fully participate in negotiating their territories affected by the investments. More rights to fully participate in negotiating their territories affected by the investments. More rights to fully participate in negotiating their territories affected by the investments. More rights to fully participate in negotiating their territories affected by the investments. More rights to fully participate in negotiating their territories affected by the investments. More rights to fully participate in negotiating their territories affected by the investments. More rights to fully participate in negotiating their territories affected by the investments. More rights to fully participate in negotiating their territories affected by the investments. More rights to fully participate in negotiating their territories affected by the investments. More rights to fully participate in negotiating their territories affected by the investments. More rights to fully participate in negotiating their territories affected by the investments. More rights to fully participate in negotiating their territories affected by the investments. More rights to fully participate in negotiating their territories affected by the investments. More rights to fully participate in negotiating their territories affected by the investments. More rights to fully participate in negotiating their territories affected by the investments. More rights to fully participate in negotiating their territories affected by the investments. More rights to fully participate in negotiating their territories affected by the investments. More rights to fully participate in negotiating their territories affected by the investments. More rights to fully participate in negotiating their territories affected by the investments. More specifically, the specifically, thespecifically, the specifically, thespecifically, the specifically, thespecifically, the specifically, the space can indicate where all groups within communities raise space can indicate where all groups within communities raise space can indicate where all groups within communities raise space can indicate where all groups within communities raise space can indicate where all groups within communities raise space can indicate where all groups within communities raise space can indicate where all groups within communities raise space can indicate where all groups within communities raise space can indicate where all groups within communities raise space can indicate where all groups within communities raise space can indicate where all groups within communities raise space can indicate where all groups within communities raise space can indicate where all groups within communities raise space can indicate where all groups within communities raise space can indicate where all groups within communities raise space can indicate where all groups within communities raise space can indicate where all groups within communities raise space can indicate where all groups within communities raise space can indicate where all groups within communities raise space can indicate where all groups within communities raise space can indicate where all groups within communities raise space can indicate where all groups within communities raise space can indicate where all groups within communities raise space can indicate where all groups within communities raise space can indicate where all groups within communities raise voices to voices to voices to demand their own territorial control, become a part of supply chains, demand their own territorial control, become a part of supply chains, demand their own territorial control, become a part of supply chains, demand their own territorial control, become a part of supply chains, demand their own territorial control, become a part of supply chains, demand their own territorial control, become a part of supply chains, demand their own territorial control, become a part of supply chains, demand their own territorial control, become a part of supply chains, demand their own territorial control, become a part of supply chains, demand their own territorial control, become a part of supply chains, demand their own territorial control, become a part of supply chains, demand their own territorial control, become a part of supply chains, demand their own territorial control, become a part of supply chains, demand their own territorial control, become a part of supply chains, demand their own territorial control, become a part of supply chains, demand their own territorial control, become a part of supply chains, demand their own territorial control, become a part of supply chains, demand their own territorial control, become a part of supply chains, demand their own territorial control, become a part of supply chains, demand their own territorial control, become a part of supply chains, change labour relationschange labour relations change labour relationschange labour relationschange labour relationschange labour relations change labour relationschange labour relations change labour relationschange labour relationschange labour relations , or co or co-create investment models. create investment models. create investment models. create investment models. create investment models. create investment models. create investment models. create investment models. create investment models.Th e themed issue collects papers that e themed issue collects papers that e themed issue collects papers that e themed issue collects papers that e themed issue collects papers that e themed issue collects papers that e themed issue collects papers that e themed issue collects papers that e themed issue collects papers that e themed issue collects papers that e themed issue collects papers that critically critically critically critically critically examineexamineexamineexamine examine possibilities of possibilities of possibilities of possibilities of possibilities of whether and whether and whether and whether and how such a such a space of inclusive development space of inclusive developmentspace of inclusive developmentspace of inclusive development space of inclusive developmentspace of inclusive development space of inclusive development space of inclusive development space of inclusive development space of inclusive development space of inclusive developmentspace of inclusive development couldcould emergeemerge emergeemerge. Is Is the new new spacepacepacepace of inclusion inclusion possible possible at all,at all, as contemporarycontemporary contemporary contemporarycontemporary investments become investments become investments become investments become investments become investments become larger in scale and more larger in scale and more larger in scale and more larger in scale and more larger in scale and more larger in scale and more larger in scale and more larger in scale and more larger in scale and more spatially and spatially and spatially and spatially and spatially and spatially and spatially and temporally temporallytemporally temporally complex, connecting themselves to complex, connecting themselves to complex, connecting themselves to complex, connecting themselves to complex, connecting themselves to complex, connecting themselves to complex, connecting themselves to complex, connecting themselves to complex, connecting themselves to complex, connecting themselves to complex, connecting themselves to complex, connecting themselves to complex, connecting themselves to other investment activities other investment activities other investment activities other investment activities other investment activities other investment activities other investment activities as well asas well as as well as well as well to3different modalities of different modalities of different modalities of different modalities of different modalities of different modalities of different modalities of different modalities of different modalities of different modalities of development cooperation? development cooperation? development cooperation? development cooperation? development cooperation? development cooperation? development cooperation? development cooperation? development cooperation? development cooperation? If not, what are the specific institutional If not, what are the specific institutional If not, what are the specific institutional If not, what are the specific institutional If not, what are the specific institutional If not, what are the specific institutional If not, what are the specific institutional If not, what are the specific institutional If not, what are the specific institutional If not, what are the specific institutional If not, what are the specific institutional If not, what are the specific institutional If not, what are the specific institutional If not, what are the specific institutional constraints that inhibit the shaping of theconstraints that inhibit the shaping of constraints that inhibit the shaping of constraints that inhibit the shaping of constraints that inhibit the shaping of constraints that inhibit the shaping of constraints that inhibit the shaping of constraints that inhibit the shaping of theconstraints that inhibit the shaping of theconstraints that inhibit the shaping of constraints that inhibit the shaping of space spacespace? Or, if Or, if yes, yes, yes, how d o the short the short -term impacts of erm impacts of erm impacts of erm impacts of erm impacts of large largelarge-scale investments scale investments scale investments scale investments scale investments scale investments scale investments indicate possibilities ofindicate possibilities of indicate possibilities of indicate possibilities of indicate possibilities of indicate possibilities ofindicate possibilities of long -term transformation term transformation term transformation term transformation term transformation term transformation , which will , which will , which will meet meet local development objectives local development objectives local development objectives local development objectiveslocal development objectives local development objectiveslocal development objectiveslocal development objectiveslocal development objectives expressed in the space of inclusionexpressed in the space of inclusionexpressed in the space of inclusion expressed in the space of inclusion expressed in the space of inclusionexpressed in the space of inclusionexpressed in the space of inclusion expressed in the space of inclusion expressed in the space of inclusion ? 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