The Political Economy of Post-Conflict Reconstruction: Assessing the Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Land Ownership Polarization in Rwanda

Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies | Vol. 10, No. 5, May 2019 | pp. 37–45

DOI: 10.46882/2019/GJPCS/100501

Article Type: Original Research Paper

Title: The Political Economy of Post-Conflict Reconstruction: Assessing the Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Land Ownership Polarization in Rwanda

Authors: Jean-Pierre Uwimana¹, Sibusiso K. Khumalo²

Authors’ Affiliations: ¹Center for Conflict Management, University of Rwanda, Huye, Rwanda; ²Department of Public Law, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa

Abstract:
Post-conflict states frequently prioritize attracting Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to rebuild damaged domestic infrastructure and accelerate economic growth. This paper examines the long-term socioeconomic outcomes of this development model in Rwanda, evaluating how modern commercial agricultural concessions impact agrarian land tenure and local community stability. Utilizing extensive agrarian mapping software combined with localized household wealth surveys conducted between 2015 and 2018, we measure the structural shifts in rural land ownership patterns. The quantitative analysis reveals that large-scale state allocations of arable land to international corporate syndicates have displaced substantial numbers of smallholder farmers, creating deep-seated socio-economic grievances. Our regression models establish that rural districts with high corporate land concentration show a 42% increase in localized land tenure disputes and higher relative deprivation indices. The study demonstrates that prioritizing elite-driven commercial investment without safeguarding traditional communal land rights accelerates rural-urban migration and exacerbates social polarization. We argue that sustainable post-conflict reconstruction requires establishing strict legal frameworks that protect traditional property ownership and mandate inclusive local profit-sharing.

Keywords: Political Economy; Post-Conflict Reconstruction; FDI; Land Tenure; Rwanda; Structural Inequality

Manuscript Timeline: Received: October 12, 2018; Revised: December 20, 2018; Accepted: February 15, 2019; Published: May 20, 2019

Citation: Uwimana, J. P., & Khumalo, S. K. (2019). The Political Economy of Post-Conflict Reconstruction: Assessing the Impact of Foreign Direct Investment on Land Ownership Polarization in Rwanda. Global Journal of Peace and Conflict Studies, 10(5), 37–45. DOI: 10.46882/2019/GJPCS/100501

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