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Land and Law in War to Peace Transitions in Africa

Supervisor:          Professor Christopher Cramer (SOAS)

Co-Supervisor:     Professor Patrick McAuslan (Bbk)

The research project will investigate the way legal dispositions settle or deal with asset transfers after conflicts and how the management of (specifically African) post-conflict land laws affects conditions for broader rural development.  It will explore the legal status of private, customary and collective property, the role devised for the state and the issues included and left out from the laws, in reference to one - or perhaps more than one - African case.  The research will question the notion that private property rights necessarily, and more or less automatically, foster development.  However, it will draw on arguments that clear property rights are important influences on investment and technical change.  Drawing on the literature of new institutional economics and political economy (which tends more to see institutions as reflections of political settlements), the project will explore through primary research how land laws reflect, challenge, or mediate the transition into legality of land transfers (and grievances created) during conflicts and will further examine how the laws have been formulated, reformed, interpreted, challenged and enforced in war to peace transitions (see also McAuslan, 2009, on Afghanistan).  This is in a context of broader conflicts around land and labour in a context of socio-economic change in sub-Saharan Africa (see Peters, 2009;  Chaveau and Richards, 2009).

The research will fill a major gap.  Given the huge increase in research and policy literature on post-conflict reconstruction, political economies of war, statebuilding, transitional justice and reconciliation etc there is still very little systematic engagement between legal and developmental perspectives in the war to peace transitions literature.

Candidates should have an undergraduate and master level degree in Economics, Sociology, Development Studies, Conflict & Development or similar.  Experience in analysing social and micro-level data would be useful, along with good research methods skills.  Knowledge of the literature on the political economy of violence and war to peace transitions is essential, as is knowledge of and/or experience working in sub-Saharan Africa.  A grasp of legal theory would be an advantage.

The successful candidate will be able to access SOAS expertise in economic theory, fieldwork methodology, data analysis and language training.  Birkbeck will provide support in understanding relevant legal theory and the analysis of legal processes.

Key References

1.  Chauveau, J.P. and Richards, P. (2009) "West African Insurgencies in Agrarian Perspective:  Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone Compared" Journal of Agrarian Change, Vol. 8, No. 4, pp 515-552
2.  Cramer, Christopher (2006) Civil War is Not a Stupid Thing:  Accounting for Violence in Developing Countries:  C. Hurst.
3.  McAuslan, Patrick (2009) "Land and Power in Afghanistan:  in pursuit of law and justice?" in A. Perry-Kessaris (ed.), Law in Pursuit of Development:  Principles into Practice? Routledge/Cavendish
4.  North, Douglas, Wallis, John Joseph, and Weingast, Barry R. (2009) Violence and Social Orders:  A Conceptual Framework for Interpreting Recorded Human History.  Cambridge University Press.

Further Details about the project can be obtained from:

Supervisor:          Professor Christopher Cramer, cc10@soas.ac.uk

Co-Supervisor:    Professor Patrick McAuslan, p.mcauslan@bbk.ac.uk

How to Apply

Applicants must complete the attached Bloomsbury College PhD Studentship application form.
http://www.bloomsbury.ac.uk/studentships/soas-app-form2word format

The completed application form should be returned to:
Alicia Sales
Scholarships Officer, Registry
SOAS
Thornhaugh Street
London WC1H 0XG

Applicants must also complete the Application for Admission as a Postgraduate Student:
http://www.soas.ac.uk/admissions/pg/howtoapply

The Application for Admssion as a Postgraduate Student form  should be completed and returned either online or to the following address:
Head of Admissions and Recruitment
SOAS
Thornhaugh Street
London
WC1H 0XG
UK

NB:  This form should be returned as soon as possible but no later than four weeks before the studentship's closing date as they must be accepted for a Research Degree place.

Closing date for Applications:  1st March 2010

 
The Bloomsbury Colleges, University of London: Birkbeck; Institute of Education; London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine; School of Oriental and African Studies; The School of Pharmacy; Royal Veterinary College.