Land and Resource Use in the Philippines

From Threat to Opportunity? Problems with the Idea of a “Code of Conduct” for Land- Grabbing (2010)

The past decades have seen the emergence of a “corporate social responsibility agenda” in response to public and activist criticism of “the impact of transnational corporations (TNCs) in developing countries and on the environment.” This agenda has emerged against the backdrop of shifting perceptions of how the market, the state, and civil society function and ought to function. One prominent version of this agenda has been the World Bank’s advocacy of “good governance” as a “persuasive ethical power that allows for [corporate] self-regulation,…

In the Name of Adat: Regional Perspectives on Reform, Tradition, and Democracy in Indonesia (2007)

This article examines the revival of adat (custom) in post-Suharto Indonesia, a movement which few Indonesia watchers predicted. Four general reasons for the rise of adat revivalism are identified. The first is the support, both ideological and concrete, of international organizations and networks committed to the rights of indigenous peoples. The second is the uncertainty, together with the opportunities, attendant on the processes of democratization and decentralization which followed the end of Suharto’s authoritarian rule. The third is the oppression of marginal…

Neoliberalism and state terrorism in the Philippines: the fingerprints of Phoenix (2011)

State terrorism is a form of terrorism which sometimes occurs when governments implement neoliberal policies lacking widespread support. From 2001 to 2010, the Philippines experienced a wave of assassinations implemented to destroy the infrastructure of the New People’s Army, a Maoist group engaged in warfare against the state. These killings, reminiscent of the Phoenix Program in Vietnam, were initiated to eliminate the articulation of a counter-hegemonic project. In studying terrorism, it is essential to examine terrorism carried out by the states. Terrorism…

Mining in the Philippines Concerns and conflicts (2006)

Having visited many developing countries and seen many places where environmental degradation or destructive development has damaged the livelihoods of people, I was nevertheless deeply shocked by the negative impact of mining in the Philippines. In July 2006 I led a team of human rights and environmental experts on a fact finding visit to the Philippines in order to examine the impact of mining on the environment and people’s livelihoods. We met with communities affected by mining and proposals for new mines. We…

Mining amid armed conflict: nonferrous metals mining in the Philippines (2007)

In recent years the government of the Philippines has attempted to accelerate the growth of the nation’s economy by encouraging the extraction of its mineral resources by multinational corporations. The Philippines is also a nation beset by armed violence carried out by anti-state groups. This article discusses how the presence, and activities, of these groups generate problems for a mining-based development paradigm. The article examines: the literature on the topic of natural resource abundance and conflict, how there have been…

Matières premières, violences et conflits armés (2003)

A number of armed conflicts in the third world are financed with raw materials. The relative importance of such income is on the increase, given the diminishing benefits of what is hereby termed as the geo-strategic rent of the cold war. The control of raw materials, territories and marketing networks now influence the strategies of armed groups, the process of conflicts and their resolution. It is however simplistic to qualify these as « resources wars », principally motivated by the…

Understanding Land Investment Deals in Africa (2011)

This report is part of the Oakland Institute’s (OI) seven-country case study project to document and examine land investment deals in Africa (Ethiopia, Mali, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Sudan, Tanzania, and Zambia) in order to determine social, economic, and environmental implications of land acquisitions in the developing world. The research team conducted a thorough examination of the actual agreements and the extent and distribution of specific land deals. Through field research, involving extensive documentation and interviews with local informants, multiple aspects of commercial…

Main basse sur les terres agricoles (2008)

La synergie actuelle entre la crise alimentaire et la crise financière a déclenché un nouvel « accaparement des terres » au niveau mondial. D’un côté, des gouvernements préoccupés par l’insécurité alimentaire qui recourent à des importations pour nourrir leurs populations s’emparent de vastes territoires agricoles à l’étranger pour assurer leur propre production alimentaire offshore. De l’autre, des sociétés agro-alimentaires et des investisseurs privés, affamés de profits dans un contexte d’aggravation de la crise financière, voient dans les investissements dans des…

Land Rights of Indigenous People in Southeast Asia (2003)

Very little has been written on indigenous rights in South-East Asia. This article attempts to address issues concerning indigenous land rights in the region, arguing that there is a clear gap between the existing situation and the relevant standards of the international human rights system. After a short overview of the international human rights framework currently binding South-East Asian states, the article analyses issues of indigenous land ownership and control by indigenous peoples over matters affecting their land rights. The…

“Land Grabbing” in Developing Countries: Foreign Investors, Regulation and Codes of Conduct (2011)

The paper discusses the recent developments of FDI in land in developing countries. Three issues are analyzed: the first is the available evidence on the so called “land grab” and the associated question of the role of control on land in the internationalisation of developing countries agricultural production. The focus is on multinational enterprises in agriculture, although analysis of shifting FDI strategies requires value chain considerations. The second issue is the problem of the risks of such large land deals…

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