LAND GRABBING E CONFLITTI INTERNI: LE ACQUISIZIONI DI TERRA SU LARGA SCALA COME FATTORE DI INSTABILITÀ DELLO STATO

Large-scale land acquisitions represent an international phenomenon which currently involves a growing number of States in the recent land rush. This paper explores how a constant activity of domestic land concession by recipient countries can lead to the emergence of social tensions that result in internal conflicts. In fact, although foreign direct investments are generally considered positive and essential for growth and development, large-scale land acquisitions can produce potential disadvantages which affect recipient countries and their populations in economic, environmental, social, and political terms. In particular, when access to land plays a fundamental role for local populations land grabbing can lead to the emergence of local conflicts as a result of land and natural resources dispossession. Consequently, it is possible to demonstrate that land conflicts have the potential to lead to generalized large-scale tensions, fuelling existing internal conflicts or generating new ones, ultimately jeopardising the State internal stability. For this reason, it is necessary to intervene in the management of land acquisitions and land governance in order to limit potential damages and be able to benefit from land investments.