Farmers, whose main concern relates to land-ownership rights, would also have something to gain.

ECONOMIST: Governing China

The U.S. also pioneered innovations in university education, land ownership, home ownership and individual rights.

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Even after they were freed from slavery the Bantu were denied political representation and rights to land ownership.

BBC: Persecuted Bantus begin new life

Alwaleed reportedly did not want to enter international arbitration over the ownership rights to the land.

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In the 28 land deals totalling 2.64 million ha covered in a survey carried out last year by Norwegian People Aid1 in what is today largely South Sudan, there were no land sales with transfer of full ownership rights but rather long-term leases of between 30 and 60 years.

UNESCO: Madiodio Niasse on the risks associated with large-scale foreign land aquisitions | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization

Activists who say they represent the poor in Haiti, like human rights lawyer Mario Joseph, say unequal land ownership is the heart of the problem.

BBC: Quake-stricken Haiti bears scars six months on

The sale of freehold land rights is more common in contexts where the land is already under private ownership, which is the case in many Latin American countries.

UNESCO: Madiodio Niasse on the risks associated with large-scale foreign land aquisitions | United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization