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Pushing for Privatization

Posted on April 6, 2008 by Amy VanderZanden
Topics: Agriculture
Countries: China
Photo: Thatcher Cook for Mercy Corps
Photo: Thatcher Cook for Mercy Corps

Chinese farmers are increasingly demanding the right to do what they want with their land, fed up with the local and regional leaders who have been benefiting from in the face of China’s constitutional principle of collective land ownership.

Area chiefs have begun selling collectively owned land to property developers with the hope that it will encourage economic growth. Unfortunately, profits from the sales often remain in the hands of the officials – farmers are losing their land, and getting nothing in return. Deciding to take action in this matter, farmers are calling for privatization of land throughout the country. Some farmers are even forcibly reclaiming thousands of acres of land.

The Council on Foreign Relations' Jayshree Bajoria offers a comprehensive roundup of news items on the issue.

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Keywords: land reform

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