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Diluting and Distorting Agrarian Reform

Hjelmgren, Emma LU (2026) SIMZ31 20261
Master of Science in Development Studies
Abstract
Land inequality remains a pressing global issue, and redistributing land is widely regarded as an important tool for reducing poverty and promoting rural development.
Prior land redistribution efforts have produced inconsistent results, raising questions about the factors shaping implementation effectiveness. This thesis examines how the
landed elite, a group whose power is rooted in landownership, influenced the redistributive implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program(CARP) during its first decade in the Philippines. Theoretically, the thesis combines state capacity theory with elite theory, creating a framework for examining how elite
influence impacts policy-making and the utilization of state resources.
The study... (More)
Land inequality remains a pressing global issue, and redistributing land is widely regarded as an important tool for reducing poverty and promoting rural development.
Prior land redistribution efforts have produced inconsistent results, raising questions about the factors shaping implementation effectiveness. This thesis examines how the
landed elite, a group whose power is rooted in landownership, influenced the redistributive implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program(CARP) during its first decade in the Philippines. Theoretically, the thesis combines state capacity theory with elite theory, creating a framework for examining how elite
influence impacts policy-making and the utilization of state resources.
The study employs a theory-guided qualitative case study design, drawing on secondary sources such as academic literature and policy documents. The findings
show that during policy formulation, the landed elite shaped CARP’s design in ways that weakened the coercive character of redistribution, allowing landowners to comply
formally while retaining control over land. During implementation, landed elites influenced or exploited weaknesses in information systems, funding structures, credit access, bureaucratic appointments, and local administrative practice. The thesis contributes to the literature by demonstrating how elites can influence institutional and resource conditions that enable the exercise of state capacity. (Less)
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author
Hjelmgren, Emma LU
supervisor
organization
alternative title
Elite Influence on State Capacity in the Philippines
course
SIMZ31 20261
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
agrarian reform, Philippines, landed elite, state capacity, policy implementation
language
English
id
9235051
date added to LUP
2026-06-25 10:20:04
date last changed
2026-06-25 10:20:04
@misc{9235051,
  abstract     = {{Land inequality remains a pressing global issue, and redistributing land is widely regarded as an important tool for reducing poverty and promoting rural development.
Prior land redistribution efforts have produced inconsistent results, raising questions about the factors shaping implementation effectiveness. This thesis examines how the
landed elite, a group whose power is rooted in landownership, influenced the redistributive implementation of the Comprehensive Agrarian Reform Program(CARP) during its first decade in the Philippines. Theoretically, the thesis combines state capacity theory with elite theory, creating a framework for examining how elite
influence impacts policy-making and the utilization of state resources.
The study employs a theory-guided qualitative case study design, drawing on secondary sources such as academic literature and policy documents. The findings
show that during policy formulation, the landed elite shaped CARP’s design in ways that weakened the coercive character of redistribution, allowing landowners to comply
formally while retaining control over land. During implementation, landed elites influenced or exploited weaknesses in information systems, funding structures, credit access, bureaucratic appointments, and local administrative practice. The thesis contributes to the literature by demonstrating how elites can influence institutional and resource conditions that enable the exercise of state capacity.}},
  author       = {{Hjelmgren, Emma}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{Diluting and Distorting Agrarian Reform}},
  year         = {{2026}},
}