Disentangling the paths of land grabbing in Colombia: The role of the state and legal mechanisms

Abstract

This article aims to reconstruct the progression of land grabbing in Colombia by identifying the sequence of mechanisms and strategies employed to dispossess and seize land through specific case studies. The analysis centres around 12 estates/farms with a history of violence, dispossession, and the utilisation of legal mechanisms, enabling the identification of certain historical patterns and how changes in the legal framework contribute significantly to these trajectories. The analysis was conducted through a systematic literature review, resulting in the reconstruction of multiple stages and modalities of this phenomenon. It also facilitated the identification of common patterns to gain a deeper understanding of the complexity and historical roots of land grabbing in the country. The findings demonstrate, despite some case-specific variations, consistent historical patterns in the land grabbing processes: i) informal land occupation and eviction of peasants, ii) land transfers by the grabbers to acquire legal title deeds, iii) legal disputes arising when peasants assert their land rights, and iv) a final struggle for land restitution. The analysis also highlights the dual role of the Colombian state in this process, whereby it has created political and legal instruments to facilitate the appropriation of land and other natural resources by capital. Simultaneously, certain official institutions have acted to prevent these actions and defend the rights of rural communities.