Cambodia
Cambodia Land Law and Economic Land Concession Architecture
Cambodia's 2001 Land Law establishes the legal framework for land ownership, possession, state land, concessions, and related land administration, operating alongside Sub-Decree 146 on Economic Land Concessions and the Law on Investment (as amended in 2021). It is central to understanding development-induced displacement, land conflict, economic concessions, and tenure security. A draft new land law intended to replace the 2001 Land Law has been under development since at least 2023 but had not been enacted as of mid-2026.
Why it matters: Cambodia is a key case for development-induced displacement in Southeast Asia. The political economy archetype is land formalization under investment pressure: formal law can protect some claims while making unregistered or politically weak communities vulnerable. The multi-year stall on the draft replacement law is itself informative: land law reform in Cambodia moves slowly relative to the pace of concession-driven displacement, leaving the 2001 framework as the operative regime well after its limitations were identified.
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