Land Expropriation

Definition

Land expropriation refers to the act by which government authorities seize privately owned land for public use or benefit.

Analogy

Think about your favorite video game where you've built up resources and territory. Now imagine another player with higher powers suddenly takes away some parts of your territory because they believe it would benefit all players. That's akin to land expropriation in real life.

Related terms

Eminent Domain: This is the power that allows governments to take private property for public use while providing just compensation.

Colonialism: A policy by which one country seeks to extend its authority over other people or territories, often involving land expropriation.

Land Reform: The process whereby land ownership structure is changed by government action, often involving redistribution from large landowners to those with little or no land.