1.1.1 Systems of Land Tenure
(Social Agrarian Structure)
The system of land tenure governs the traditional or legal
rights individuals or groups have to land and the resulting
social relationships among the rural population. Its components
are the system of land ownership and system of labour organization.
In accordance with the existing conditions, many different
land tenure systems have developed throughout the world, whereby
both natural conditions (climate, soil conditions, topography)
as well as social factors (sociocultural values, political
ideology, level of technological development, population trend,
changes in the cost price relationships, etc.) played a role.
Systems of land tenure are not immutable. On the contrary,
they are subjected to a continual process of change. Changes
in the natural growing conditions and economic factors, technological
innovations, changes in the size of the population, and influences
emanting from the political power structures bring about changes
in the land tenure system. As in recent times these factors
have been changing more and more rapidly, the system of land
tenure frequently lags behind the new situation and does not
adjust to it on time. Land tenure systems are institutionally
established and are, therefore, difficult to alter. Political
power structures; cooperative ties and class, cultural, and
ethnic interests and motives all work towards maintaining
the established forms.
As a result of the continual changes in the factors that
govern and form the land tenure system, an ideal land tenure
system cannot exist. The momentary, specific land tenure system
is the institutional framework within which the agrarian production
and way of life are carried out under the existing circumstances
and conditions. It is interrelated with the natural, economic,
social, and political conditions. As these change, the land
tenure system has to continually adapt itself to the changing
situation.
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