Can Humanity Change its Future? - Lessons from Global Land Reform Movements

Explore the global struggle over food, water, land, and shelter in this thought-provoking lecture by Professor Jo Guldi. Delve into the history of land reform movements, tracing their evolution from Victorian Ireland to their global impact across continents. Examine the complex interplay of popular protest, nationalism, Communist and capitalist ideologies, and utopian schemes that shaped these movements. Discover how the concept of private property was redefined as a collective resource to support food and housing. Learn about the rise and fall of state-engineered land reform projects, influenced by diverse actors including Irish peasants, Hindu saints, development analysts, economists, and indigenous farmers. Analyze the impact of Cold War ideology, United Nations initiatives, World Bank policies, grassroots activism, and human factors on land reform outcomes. Understand the consequences of the 1974 coup that left poor populations dependent on landlords worldwide. Reflect on the critical role of land use in addressing climate change governance and consider how lessons from the past can be applied to current challenges. Gain insights from Professor Guldi's extensive research on this crucial topic that spans human history and continues to shape our future.