Agricultural Reform in Rwanda: Authoritarianism, Markets and Zones of Governance (Politics and Development in Contemporary Africa) - Softcover

Chris Huggins

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1786990016 ISBN 13: 9781786990013

Publisher: Zed Books, 2019

Synopsis

International observers have lauded Rwanda as an example of an African country taking control of its own development trajectory, and as a market-friendly destination for investment. A key component of this narrative has been an ambitious programme of agricultural reform, involving private firms, NGOs, and international charities. The Rwandan government claims these reforms have been a resounding success, tripling crop yields and helping to combat hunger.

Chris Huggins argues, however, that Rwanda’s liberal, modernising image sits poorly with the regime’s continuing authoritarian tendencies. Featuring in-depth case studies of the effects of agricultural reform in three different regions, and drawing on hundreds of interviews, Huggins shows that the much-vaunted ‘liberalization’ of agriculture has in fact depended on the coercion of Rwandan farmers, and in many cases has had a detrimental impact on their livelihoods.

With the Kagame regime now coming under increasing international scrutiny, this work provides a timely look at the impact of ‘market friendly authoritarianism’ in contemporary Africa, making essential reading for students and scholars of development in the fields of sociology, anthropology, political science, and economics.

About this title

About the Author

Chris Huggins is an assistant professor at the School of International Development and Global Studies, University of Ottawa, as well as being an adjunct professor at the Institute of African Studies, Carleton University, and a non-resident research fellow at the African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS). He previously worked for Human Rights Watch as their Rwanda researcher, and as a consultant for the United States Agency for International Development. His previous books include Conflict and Housing, Land, and Property Rights (with Scott Leckie, 2011) and From the Ground Up: Land Rights, Conflict and Peace in Sub-Saharan Africa (co-edited with Jenny Clover, 2005).

Edition details

• Publisher: Zed Books
• Publication date: 2019
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1786990016
• ISBN 13: 9781786990013
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 256