Competition over land and the resources found on land drives much conflict around the world. Conflict over land is far more likely to escalate and become violent when land tenure and resource rights are weak, insecure, and non-negotiable and when the land governance systems in place are ineffective, corrupt, or otherwise dysfunctional. Efforts to protect land records, to mediate land disputes between and among displaced persons and settlers, and to rebuild capacity in the land governance systems can help reduce tension, stabilize a locale, and set the stage for productive investments and growth, which, in turn, can decrease conflicts.
Issue Brief