Negotiating Public Land Rights in Rural China: Insights into Conflict Resolution

Abstract

Land expropriation disputes, particularly those involving public land, are growing more prevalent in rural areas of China as urbanization picks up speed. Studies on land expropriation, urbanization, and farmers' rights abound, but there are very few that concentrate on the procedures used to settle public land disputes. There is a dearth of research on this topic, especially in rural areas where the focus is often on land expropriation during urbanization and urban land management challenges. This study uses interviews to examine the behaviors and effects of Chinese farmers who are pursuing public land rights to fill this research vacuum. To extract in-sights from the textual material provided by the interviews, the NVivo software tool was utilized in conjunction with the theme analysis technique. According to the study, these farmers mostly use normative claims and benefit distribution tactics, which reflects their intricate relationships inside the established legal system. Additionally, the study shows how farmers really implement land policy by using the social and political systems that are already in place to strengthen their negotiating position. These exchanges show that resolving conflicts over public land in rural areas is a social and political matter as much as a legal one, reflecting the dynamic shifts in power and interest structures within these communities. The study's conclusions give fresh viewpoints for comprehending and settling public land disputes in rural China, as well as important new information for developing and carrying out rural land policy.