Agricultural Reform in Rwanda

Reviews / Votes

An important contribution to the literature on postgenocide Rwanda. It is also, more broadly, a must-read for anyone interested in the global processes of agrarian transformation. * African Affairs * An in-depth analysis of Rwanda's problematic rural reengineering project. It is an essential contribution to the contemporary literature on post-conflict reconstruction and development. * An Ansoms, co-author of Losing your Land: Dispossession in the Great Lakes * In a nuanced and compelling account, Chris Huggins explores why Rwanda's ambitious agricultural modernization program has undermined the livelihoods of many of the country's smallholder farmers. It should be required reading for scholars and practitioners engaged with state-sponsored rural development in Africa. * Catharine Newbury, Smith College (Emeritus) * A well researched book on Rwanda, using an interesting blend of theoretical insights. It highlights the drama in Africa associated with capturing peasants for national development while at the same time avoiding elite capture of the public good. * Goran Hyden, University of Florida (Emeritus) * Based on detailed fieldwork, this book substantially advances our understanding of the Rwandan story. Anyone interested in the political economy of African agriculture should read this book. * Ian Scoones, co-editor of Africa's Land Rush: Rural Livelihoods and Agrarian Change * An extraordinary study of the state-directed commercialization of Rwandan agriculture. In this nuanced account, Huggins reworks the contemporary agrarian question. * Philip McMichael, author of Food Regimes and Agrarian Questions * Theoretically sophisticated and rich in empirical detail. The book deserves a wide readership and can profitably be read by scholars and policy makers alike. * Rita Abrahamsen, University of Ottawa * Drawing on his deep knowledge of Rwanda and extensive fieldwork, Huggins convincingly demonstrates that Rwanda's agricultural development programs represent an extension of the state's authoritarian control, and lead to popular resentment and resistance. * Timothy Longman, Director of the African Studies Center at Boston University * A very informed, nuanced analysis of agriculture in Rwanda, spanning zones of governance, compliance and resistance in a "developmental" state. As always, only some citizens and communities benefit. This book shows us why. * Timothy M. Shaw, University of Massachusetts Boston *