This book lays down some general themes and principles in the study of land reform and traces the historical evolution of the concept of land reform. It constitutes a continent-based country-by-country survey of the significant recent reforms in the less developed countries.

This book examines the relationship between indicators of resource distribution and democratization in the group of 170 countries with data ranging from the 1850s to the present day. Vanhanen constructs a compelling argument, concluding that the emergence of democracy is closely linked to resource distribution.