The ‘return’ of land grabbing?

Abstract

This introductory paper to the Special Forum on ‘The Return of Land Grabbing’ examines the evolving dynamics of land grabbing. We argue that land grabbing never disappeared but has persisted and transformed, shaped by geopolitics, financialization, and climate policies. The forum advances debates by assessing knowledge and offering new insights into actors, mechanisms, and governance. Through diverse case studies and theoretical contributions, we present perspectives on the entangled dynamics of land grabbing, geopolitical shifts, financialization, green grabbing, and resistance. We invite reflections that respond to the changing nature of land grabbing—its drivers, forms, and sites of contestation.