Land rush

Abstract

Studies and debates on the issue of land grabs have generated multiple terms and concepts that are used loosely and interchangeably, such as large-scale land acquisitions, land grab, land deals, land enclosure, and land rush, among others. Explanations and critiques of such terms have built and enriched our knowledge. Yet, there is one term that has been underexplored: land rush. Here, we offer our own definition of a ‘land rush’, which has a different meaning from the other commonly used terms. These differences have important theoretical, methodological and political extensions and implications. Applying the lens of ‘land rush’ requires us to adjust our focus, and shows that the literature and public debates have focused on ‘concluded, operational land acquisitions’; they have tended to be dismissive of ‘failed land deals’, blind to ‘pin prick’ types of land accumulation, and have rarely taken the ‘land rush’ itself as the unit of inquiry and subject of public debate in any systematic way. This has led to a fragmented knowledge. Using the concept of the ‘land rush’ enables us to connect the issue of land grabs to broader global social life more effectively. As such, it is a key concept in Critical Agrarian Studies.

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