China's rural development challenges: land tenure reform and local institutional experimentation

PhD ceremony: Mr. Y. Zhao, 11.00 uur, Academiegebouw, Broerstraat 5, Groningen

Thesis: China's rural development challenges: land tenure reform and local institutional experimentation

Promotor(s): prof. P.P.S. Ho, prof. L.C.A. Verstappen

Faculty: Spatial Sciences

Yongjun Zhao’s research has focused on conditions and dynamics of nature resource tenure systems and the implications for policy, legal and institutional reforms in the countries mentioned earlier. His current research focuses on how land laws can be better linked to societal needs for sustainable development in the world’s emerging economies especially the so-called BRICS nations. He proposes a concept of land law with development, which means that the legal aspects of property rights and land tenure systems can be more effectively implemented if they suit the sustainable development needs of a given community. This would require the creation of mechanisms for public participation processes in which the interests and rights of the disadvantaged groups can be voiced in law-making. Zhao has also been increasingly involved in research programmes on China-Africa relations as China’s growing impact on Africa has brought about both positive and negative effects on the African states and the poor. He is studying the viabilities of pro-poor investments, environmental governance and poverty reduction in Africa from multi-stakeholder perspectives for well-informed international policy debates and processes. This is of crucial importance for policy-makers who need to develop better ways of engaging China on critical international development issues.