Institutions, Complexity, and the Land Integrating Generations

The importance of the institutional and organisational development of land administration has been recognised by the establishment of a FIG Presidential Task Force. This paper develops aspects of property theory and institutional analysis through the lens of complexity, to support and contextualise the work of the Task Force. The institutions associated with land administration are living evolving systems that require a different approach in order to model their intricacies. The concept of institutions and good governance is introduced through an explanation of the „rules ‟ influencing human behaviour. The debate surrounding the individualisation of land titles in a developing country land administration system is challenged. Critical to dealing with the complexity of the institutions surrounding land administration is an appreciation of the multiple stakeholders, together with an understanding of their respective aspirations and the framework of social definitions. The notion of complexity is contextualised from the perspective of small island developing states (SIDS) in the Pacific. The foregoing highlights the need for the development, and acceptance, of a robust theory of the institutional change process. The significant contribution of this paper is provided by evolving a hybrid model applicable to institutional development and change. The model draws on the work of Smajgl and Larson, and synergises it with the volitional pragmatism offered by Bromley. The paper concludes this short theoretical grounding by highlighting the need for a „shared imagination ‟ for institutional change in land administration that can inform and underpin the FIG Presidential Task Force on Institutional and Organisational Development