Coercion to Conversion : Push and Pull Pressures on Custom Land in Vanuatu
This paper describes some features of custom landholding. It evaluates elements of the process by which custom land is converted into registerable form, and considers how the judicial system is placed to resolve disputes involving custom landholder...
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| Format: | Brief |
| Language: | English |
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World Bank, Washington, DC
2018
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| Online Access: | http://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/658771468023378450/Coercion-to-conversion-push-and-pull-pressures-on-custom-land-in-Vanuatu http://hdl.handle.net/10986/30535 |
| Summary: | This paper describes some features of
custom landholding. It evaluates elements of the process by
which custom land is converted into registerable form, and
considers how the judicial system is placed to resolve
disputes involving custom landholders in a context where the
framework for the recognition of custom is under-developed.
Certain commentators argue that custom landholding is
inherently incompatible with economic development. Others
disagree pointing to success stories and arguing that a
purely economic analysis dismisses the benefits, also
inherent in custom landholding, of community and culture.
Wherever one stands on this debate, what is clear is that
the process of converting custom land into registered
leasehold is fraught with dispute, disillusionment and
controversy. The current process is sharply tilted toward
the structures of the formal system and the interests of
those who have access to that system with the result that:
(i) custom landholders are often excluded from equitable
participation in the development of their land, and (ii)
attempts to use the legal system to respond to these
problems are frustrated. |
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