Covers why do we need to think about policies to formalise land rights in developing countries?; primarily a political issue; policies to formalise land rights are not a panacea; inclusive formalisation policies present considerable challenges. Shows that policies to formalise rights raise highly political issues and often contribute to exclusion. They can be powerful tools for greater security, social integration and economic development, but only under certain conditions – in particular, recognising the plurality of norms and rights (especially collective rights), social validation prior to the registration of rights, reliable land management institutions, and a favourable economic environment.