A chance to break free from the dead-end street of Hungarian land policy

Tanka, Endre

Keywords: value-based land policy, national land scheme, regulation of agricultural units, moratorium

For 20 years, land ownership in Hungary has been dominated by neoliberal land policy, which serves the private interests of cross-national capital investment. By its very nature, this policy has suppressed the community functions of land, such as its ability to sustain and recreate societies and communities. In the new era of history – which might even bring about the collapsing of civilisations – ownership of soil and water, these two ancient natural elements, is essential to survival. This is why replacing profit-oriented land policy with a value-oriented land policy serving common interests is indispensable.
When agricultural intellectuals desiring to use the means of national self-defence to seek a point of breakthrough that will bring about a value-based land policy in the service of sustainability and the public good, even professional dialogue is hampered. Basic terms need to be clarified before the goals and institutions of a land policy based on our common interests can be set up, based on a nation-wide agreement. This paper intends to offer a humble contribution to this process by clarifying some terms and by outlining a national land scheme I have developed.

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