A myth-debunking literature review from Roskilde University, Denmark argues the folly of positing the existence of the inherently democratic African village in which land is so imbued with the intrinsic identities of its owners that it is virtually inalienable. It also unpicks the currently fashionable chain of assumptions that private property in land creates security, leads to investment and checks environmental degradation.
Evidence is presented from several countries that peoples practices are ahead of the law.
Pledging, rental and other locally acceptable forms of land transfer can in time turn into outright sale. The daily pursuit of individual interests leads to forms of land use which often undermine, circumvent and neutralise legislation and dogmatic customs. This autonomous privatisation is at first tolerated but later legitimated by government, institutions and courts. The study questions the gestion de terroir approach, endorsed by donors and the UN, and used to justify wresting control over local resources from the state and placing it in the hands of supposedly caring and egalitarian communities. This approach has, argues the report, resulted in insufficient attention being paid to private land, either because this tenure form is not considered relevant or because it is felt this process should be countered by communitarian measures.