| ID | 105181 |
| Title Proper | Land rights in Cambodia |
| Other Title Information | how neopatrimonial politics restricts land policy reform |
| Language | ENG |
| Author | Un, Kheang ; So, Sokbunthoeun |
| Publication | 2011. |
| Summary / Abstract (Note) | Cambodia has undergone substantial changes since the United Nations' sponsored election in 1993. Politically, the country has become increasingly stable under the domination of the ruling Cambodian People's Party (CPP). Economically, Cambodia has achieved an unprecedented level of economic performance, with GDP growth averaging almost 10 percent annually during the five years preceding the current economic crisis. In spite of these improvements in political and economic conditions, land rights have emerged as a major issue affecting the lives of many poor Cambodians. Comprehensive overall analysis of land policy reforms in the country remains lacking, however, and this article fills a void in the existing literature. Our analysis shows that despite land policy reforms in the past decade, Cambodia's land rights problems continue unabated. What accounts for this development? Through analysis of government land policies, an array of primary documents, and interview data from government officials and investors, this article questions the relevance of Cambodia's land policy reforms. Its central premise is that although past collectivization and weak governmental institutions have contributed to land rights issues, it is neopatrimonialism-a mechanism that dictates political interaction among the elites and between the elites and the electorate and resources governance and distribution-that perpetuates land rights problems and limits land policy reform. |
| `In' analytical Note | Pacific Affairs Vol. 84, No. 2; Jun 2011: p289-308 |
| Journal Source | Pacific Affairs Vol. 84, No. 2; Jun 2011: p289-308 |
| Key Words | Cambodia ; Land Rights ; Land Policy Reforms ; Neopatrimonialism ; Land Policy |