Atualmente, o agronegócio predomina como modelo de desenvolvimento agrário e agrícola no campo brasileiro. Este modelo, caracterizado pela expansão territorial de grandes monoculturas dependentes de insumos industrializados, afirma o processo de desenvolvimento desigual no Brasil. Diante da magnitude dos impactos sociais e ambientais negativos, movimentos sociais de luta pela terra irão propor novos caminhos como alternativa ao modelo da Revolução Verde. Nesse contexto, surge na cidade de Ribeirão Preto SP a reivindicação por uma reforma agrária sustentável. Uma proposta de uso camponês do território em resposta ao avanço das atividades agrícolas monocultoras em grande escala, as quais têm exposto, ao risco de degradação, as áreas de recarga do Aquífero Guarani sobre a qual o município o está situado. No ano de 2007, 264 famílias constituíram o Assentamento Mário Lago a partir de um compromisso em conciliar a vida no campo à recuperação e conservação ambiental. Neste contexto surge a motivação para produzir a partir de uma agricultura com base na agroecologia. Este trabalho analisa o processo de consolidação desta proposta no assentamento Mário Lago, iniciado em 2011 através de uma parceria firmada entre MST e a Associação de Produtores Agroflorestais da Barra do Turvo e Adrianópolis, conhecida como COOPERAFLORESTA. Em uma abordagem da geografia das lutas sociais no campo, esta tese apresenta o processo de apropriação da agrofloresta como sistema agrícola capaz de favorecer a autonomia, o protagonismo dos camponeses fortalecendo processos de recampesinização. O reconhecimento dessas ações está presente na política, na sociedade e especificamente nas novas relações estabelecidas entre seres humanos e natureza, que será compreendida como a relação dos camponeses com a terra. A pesquisa busca compreender o ponto de vista desse grupo, desde aspectos simbólicos que permeiam a prática do cultivo de florestas, aos resultados econômicos, benefícios sociais alcançados, assim como a convergência, dilemas e conflitos, presentes na afirmação de uma reforma agrária agroflorestal. / The agribusiness is the main agricultural and agrarian development model present in Brazilian rural area. This model, which is characterized by the dominance of large monoculture reliant in industrialized inputs, ratifies the unequal development process occurred in Brazil. In addition, the intensive use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides places the environment at risk. Due the magnitude of the negative social and environmental impacts, the maintenance of this model began to be inquired by land rights movements. In this context has emerged in the city of Ribeirão Preto SP a demand for a sustainable land reform as a new form of land use. It is a reaction to the advancement of large scale monoculture agriculture, which have exposed the refilling areas of the Guarani Aquifer (on which is situated the municipality) to the risk of degradation. In 2007, 264 families established the Mario Lago settlement with the commitment of reconciling the rural living with the recovery and conservation of the environment through an agroecology-based agriculture. In this way, this paper investigates, as a case study, the consolidation of the agroforestry proposal in Mario Lago settlement, which has started in 2011 with the partnership between MST and Agroforestry Producers Association of Barra do Turvo and Adrianópolis municipalities, known as COOPERAFLORESTA. Within the approach of the geography of rural social struggles, this thesis shows the appropriation of the agroecology as a new agricultural model starred by the peasants. The recognition of these actions is present in politics, in society and especially in the new relations between human beings and nature, which will be understood as the relationship of the peasants to the land. The agroforest associated with changes in social relations has provided strengthening to the repeasantization process. This research aims at understanding the point of view of this group, the symbolic aspects that permeate the forest cultivation practice, the economic results and social benefits, as well as the convergence, dilemmas and conflicts present in the affirmation of an agroforestry land reform.

Os projetos de assentamento sob jurisdição da Superintendência Regional de Marabá apresentam uma série de dificuldades em relação à evasão de um número considerável de famílias assentadas. Frequentemente essas famílias são responsabilizadas pelo governo e até nos meios acadêmicos pelo seu fracasso em permanecer no lote. O objetivo dessa pesquisa foi justamente se contrapor a tal visão sobre os assentados. Para compreender melhor a questão da evasão, a pesquisa se desenvolveu no sentido de investigar causas internas e externas aos projetos de assentamento. Foram realizadas entrevistas com assentados do PA Canarana e com outros sujeitos sociais da região, nas quais puderam ser evidenciados problemas relacionados à falta de apoio à produção e também graves dificuldades de comercialização. Entre tais problemas destacam-se as dificuldades de reversão de pastos degradados para a formação de roças e a dependência dos assentados em relação aos atravessadores para poderem vender sua produção. Em relação aos problemas enfrentados também ficou claro o desencontro das políticas voltadas para essa população assentada, fortemente marcada por uma herança camponesa. Por outro lado, a pesquisa permitiu evidenciar a continuidade da tradição rebelde formada a partir da luta dos posseiros dos anos 1960, 1970 e 1980. O caso das retomadas de lotes reconcentrados realizadas a partir da iniciativa de famílias camponesas foi a prova mais marcante encontrada por essa pesquisa em relação à continuidade dessa tradição, reforçada ainda pela existência de dezenas de acampamentos nas beiras de estradas e cantos de fazendas. A partir desses resultados foi possível ainda contestar a visão governamental atual sobre ser desnecessária a criação de mais projetos de assentamentos. A criatividade e a persistência das famílias camponesas em impedir, resistir ou reverter as investidas do capital sobre as terras dos projetos de assentamento apareceram também na busca de alternativas produtivas e de comercialização. A atuação do grupo do mel e a articulação em torno do projeto da produção de polpa de frutas, com seus avanços e limites, demonstraram a falta de criatividade e ousadia das políticas oficiais, cada vez mais marcadas pela ideia de inserção da produção das famílias assentadas nos mercados capitalistas. / The settlement projects under the Superintendência Regional de Marabá jurisdiction show many difficulties related to a considerable number of settled families evasion. These families are usually considered responsible, by the government and even in the academic fields, for its failure in remaining in their lots. The objective of this research was to refuse this vision of the settled people. To better understand the evasion issue, the research was developed in the sense of investigating the internal and external causes of the settlement projects. Interviews were taken with the settled people in PA Canarana and with other subjects of the region, in which problems related to the lack of support to the production and also severe commercialization difficulties were put in evidence. Among these problems, can be highlighted the difficulties related to the reversion of the degraded pasture to form new clear and productive land, and the dependence of the settled people to the middlemen (atravessadores) to sell their production. Related to the problems faced by these settled population, it also became clear the distance between the politics that aimed these population, strongly marked by a \"peasant heritage\". On the other hand, this research made it possible to put in evidence the continuity of the \"tradição rebelde\" formed from the struggle of the squatters (posseiros) in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s. The case of recentered lots taking back made from the initiatives of the peasant families was the strongest proof found by this research concerning the continuity of this tradition, also reinforced by the existence of dozens of camps on roadsides and farms borders. From these results, it was also possible to refuse the current government vision over the necessity of the creation of more settlement projects. The creativity and the persistence of the peasant families in avoiding, resisting or reverting the capital on the settlement projects lands were also pointed in their quest to productive and commercialization alternatives. The performance of the honey group and the articulation around the fruits pulp production project, with its advances and limits, showed the lack of creativity and the boldness of official politics, increasingly marked by the idea of insertion of the settled families production in the capitalist market.

M.Comm. / This dissertation examines the role of land reforms in the alleviation of rural poverty. A three-pronged approach is adopted in the background study process. This includes a review of the South African land reform programme, a review of international experiences in land reforms, and finally, a focused study of the Uitkyk community of the North West Province. Chapter 1 lays the framework for the study and ends up with the fundamentals of the South African land reform programme. Chapter 2 examines experiences in land reforms in three other countries namely, Brazil, China and Zimbabwe. Based on the comparability of these countries to South Africa in various respects, lessons are drawn from their experiences for South Africa. Chapter 3 traces the origin and evolution of the land question among the Uitkyk community and their subsequent quest for restitution. Chapter four presents empirical evidence from a field survey, with subsequent analysis thereof. Finally, Chapter 5 summarises the lessons drawn from the Uitkyk and South African experience and the international experience. It also offers some tentative recommendations for the South African land reform programme. Two fundamental approaches to land reforms are recognised in this dissertation. These include the government-assisted approach and the market based approach. It is difficult to find any pure form of either approaches anywhere on a national scale. However, at different time periods, countries may tend to prefer one approach over the other. After the 2005 National Land Summit, there is growing , momentum for South Africa to switch from a predominantly market-based· approach to a more government-assisted programme. For a land reform programme to be effective, it must go beyond changes in access to resources to actual economic development. Such development is indicated by changes in income, employment, nutrition and education. The evidence from this dissertation suggests that within the Uitkyk community, land reforms may so far have resulted in change in access to land, but not so much in economic development. To advance the goals of land reform, South Africa will have to carefully consider the tradeoffs between two seemingly conflicting goals of land reform, namely, efficiency and equity, Both community and individual beneficiaries of land grants must also take greater responsibility in translating the change in land access to more wealth and better living conditions.

Magister Artium (Development Studies) - MA(DVS) / Across the globe, land reform has become a key strategy for improving people’s livelihoods aimed at reducing poverty and increasing food security for resilient livelihoods. In sub-Saharan Africa, redistributive land reform has been implemented since the post-colonial period as a developmental approach. Since independence, Zimbabwe implemented two forms of land reform programmes which are the Land Reform and Resettlement Programme (LRRP) (1980-1997) and the Fast Track Land Reform Programme (FTLRP) (2000). The LRRP was based on the willing buyer willing seller approach with the state buying land for redistribution, while the FTLRP emerged from the chaotic and sporadic invasion of white owned commercial farms led by liberation war veterans and other politically affiliated people. In this thesis, I will focus on the LRRP which provided small farming land to many beneficiaries to ensure sustainable livelihoods. Land is an important livelihood source for the people of Zimbabwe, but on its own it cannot sustain the living standards of resettled farmers. Contemporary literature shows the catastrophic failure of land reform in Zimbabwe. Despite all the problems, land still remains the spring board of livelihoods in Zimbabwe. There is, however, less empirical research undertaken to assess how the LRRP has benefited and enhanced livelihoods of resettled farmers. This research will assess how the LRRP improved the livelihoods of Nyahukwe resettled farmers in Rusape, Zimbabwe. The study’s investigation will focus and add literature on how LRRP has been successful in empowering resettled farmers to enhance their livelihoods, to be more food secure as well as to improve their well-being. Using qualitative research methods, the research aimed to assess the livelihoods of farmers since they resettled. In particular, assessing the assets and capital available and how the farmers have been able to cope, strategies implemented to diversify their livelihoods and the outcomes achieved. The Sustainable livelihoods approach (SLA) was used as a theoretical framework to assess the new livelihoods patterns established after resettlement. Purposive non-random sampling was employed to interview 3 Nyahukwe government officials such as the extension managers, Environmental health officer and Veterinary officer. Semi-structured interviews were used to collect data from 30 participants from Village F. A focus group 10 - 15 purposefully selected farmers was conducted. Data analysis was performed on the narrative and information from interviews, focus groups and questionnaires conducted during data collection. The findings show that land reform has enhanced the livelihoods of farmers since they were resettled as they reckon food selfsufficiency and better well-being. The research findings also illustrate that land remain the livelihood base of Nyahukwe farmers although they have adopted coping strategies to expand income generation. Coping strategies are farm and off farm activities that have diversified the farmers’ livelihoods through the interaction of assets. Land as a natural asset has been used with human, physical, financial and social capital to sustain the farmers. The findings revealed positive livelihood outcomes by assessing the assets before and after resettlement and outcomes achieved after adopting strategies as all farmers have increased income, self-sufficiency and improved well-being.

Based on primary sources pertaining to the village of Zhaitan, this thesis studied the economic transition of households in a village in the south of Anhui Province as they went through the revolutions, political movements and reforms of the twentieth century. The transition was divided into four periods, corresponding to four of the chapters of this text. The first period was from 1927 to 1949, on which I depicted the household economy in a village that had not yet experienced intervention by the powers of the state; the second period was from 1949 to 1962, during which the Land Reform and the cooperative movement were the most significant revolutions in the rural area. The third period was 1963–1978, when the commune system was adjusted in response to the failure of the Great Leap Forward and was continued stably from then on. The last period was the reform period which ran from late-1978 until 1992. During this period, the collective system was abandoned and state control on the rural economy was gradually loosened. In the course of transition of the household economy in Zhaitan, I focused on the conflict between the growing population and the limited resources of the village. Before the 1949, the solution was to go into businesses outside the village; in the 30 years after 1949, under the framework of the collective system and the control of the state command, the peasants managed to develop labour-intensive production to meet the needs of the growing population; in the reform period after 1978, with the overall withdrawal of state intervention in rural areas, the tension was finally released through the market and the development of industry. The experience of Zhaitan reveals that the change of land ownership did not make a difference to the economic condition of most households if the land area was much less than what was needed. It also shows that the collective system of agriculture, however, could promote agricultural production, and thus brought about positive effects on the condition of each household through centralised management of the labour force and the land. Last, but not least, the overall boost to rural household economy is relient on the development of the industry to complete the transfer of rural workforce from the agriculture.

This evaluative study aims to identify and analyse conflicts within the South African land reform process that have manifested within Communal Property Institutions, and so doing, devising and providing a mechanism that will assist conflict practitioners to approach these conflicts in an informed manner. It further intends to provide for an approach in order to restore social justice to the land reform process, and so doing, suggesting resolution mechanisms to assist in the process for the reasons that this restoration of land rights was originally intended. This study further seeks to investigate the causes, actions and consequences of protagonistic land claimants and beneficiaries within the land reform process, who have created conflict within their communal property institutions, at the expense of those beneficiaries who are subsequently deprived of their land rights. According to Coate and Rosati (1988), human needs are a powerful source of explanation of human behaviour and social interaction. All individuals have needs that they strive to satisfy, either by using a system of “acting on the fringes” or acting as a reformist or revolutionary. Given this condition, social systems must be responsive to individual needs, or be subject to instability and forced change, possibly through violence or conflict). Humans need a number of essentials to survive. According to the renowned psychologist Abraham Maslow and the conflict scholar John Burton, these essentials go beyond just food, water, and shelter. They include both physical and non-physical elements needed for human growth and development, as well as all those things humans are innately driven to attain. For Maslow, needs are hierarchical in nature. That is, each need has a specific ranking or order of obtainment. Maslow's needs pyramid starts with the basic items of food, water, and shelter. These are followed by the need for safety and security, then belonging or love, self-esteem, and finally, personal fulfilment (Rothman J, 1997). Burton and other needs theorists who have adopted Maslow's ideas to conflict theory, however, perceive human needs in a different way, being rather as an emergent collection of human development essentials (Burton J, 1990). Furthermore, they contend needs do not have a hierarchical order. Rather, needs are sought simultaneously in an intense and relentless manner (Rothman J, 1997). Needs theorists' list of human essentials include safety, a sense of belonging (love), self esteem, personal fulfilment,identity, cultural security, freedom, distributive justice, and participation. The South African land restoration process relies largely on the Constitution of South Africa (1996), with the preamble thereof as its tenets. The three land reform programmes that emanate from the Constitution are the Land Redistribution Programme, the Land Tenure Reform programme, and the Land Restitution programme, which have been used in this study as the point of departure from which deviations are measured and analysed. A number of Communal property Institutions have been considered, the findings of which have been evaluated, investigated and analysed, in order to achieve the aims of this study.

Magister Philosophiae (Land and Agrarian Studies) - MPhil(LAS) / This research investigated whether local economic development interventions necessarily improve the livelihoods of poor communities. More specifically, the goal of this thesis was to explore some of the reasons why land-based economic development interventions often struggle to meet their main objective of improving the livelihoods of local poor people. / South Africa

Magister Philosophiae (Land and Agrarian Studies) - MPhil(LAS) / This was an original case study that aimed to locate South African post-apartheid rural land social movements within existing theoretical approaches. The land social movements organize around land rights and access for landless people and for those whose land rights are weak or threatened. The study analyzed conditions contributing to the emergence of land social movements in the post-apartheid South Africa and struggle methods they employ, using a case study of the Tenure Security Coordinating Committee in KwaZulu-Natal. / South Africa

Magister Philosophiae (Land and Agrarian Studies) - MPhil(LAS) / This research investigated experiences of the Saamwerk equity scheme as a framework to analyze the ways in which the scheme has achieved the objectives of land reform. It reviewed the role of this scheme in relation to the experiences and perceptions of beneficiaries about the extent to which this scheme has or has not improved their living conditions. / South Africa

Magister Philosophiae (Land and Agrarian Studies) - MPhil(LAS) / Over the past fifteen years, the South African government has extended various land, labour and social rights to farm workers, ranging from provisions of basic labour rights in 1993 to the minimum wage in 2003. Literature suggests that social relations on commercial farms do not remain static in the context of policy changes. This thesis sets out to understand the ways in which social relations have or have not changed, on one commercial farm in Limpopo province, South Africa, and to establish factors that impede or promote such change as well as the consequences for farm workers’ daily lives. Drawing from the interpretive and critical social science philosophical perspectives, the thesis adopts a qualitative research methodology that takes into consideration the experiences and perceptions of farm workers, farm managers, the farm owner and key informants from government institutions and civil society. At a theoretical level the study is informed by four paradigms namely: the materialist perspective; the total institution thesis; paternalism; and structuration theory. It considers three overlapping conceptual models of understanding relations between farm owners and farm workers namely the welfarist, workerist and transformative models. The paper argues that, in the past decade, the extension of farm labour and tenure laws to the farm sector has eroded the welfarist relations between the farm owner and farm workers. There is now a rise in workerist relations in a context of unequal power relations tilted in favour of the farm employer. The thesis concludes that in order to adequately understand land, labour and social relations, one has to consider the politics of land ownership as well as the politics of agricultural capitalist employment.