Land power Who has it, who doesn't, and how that determines the fate of societies

A prolific progressive social commentator and author, Albertus (political science, Univ. of Chicago; Property Without Rights) argues that land is the fundamental source of economic, social, and political power. Over the past two centuries, what Albertus describes as the Great Reshuffle has dramatically changed ownership patterns of land worldwide. His interest is how land reform can affect economic growth, racism, gender disparities, equity for Indigenous peoples, and the environment. His scholarly research and on-the-ground examination of land use and land reform over the past 15 years (mainly in non-industrialized countries) leads Albertus to argue that redistributing acreage to the tillers of land, with accompanying clear titles and generous government assistance, can combat racism, correct gender disparities, and stimulate economic growth in a bottom-up process. He also makes the case that top-down philanthropic and governmental efforts to conserve land can help heal the environment, as it has in Chile and Spain. VERDICT Albertus, who advocates progressive values, has written a book that will be of interest to readers interested in how liberal goals can be achieved through land reform, as well as those interested in changes to land ownership in such places as South America, Australia, India, and Italy.--Mark Jones