Leo J. de Haan is Professor of Development Studies and former Rector of the International Institute of Social Studies of Erasmus University Rotterdam. His current research interests are the developmental state and the conceptualization of rural and urban livelihoods; international and national migration patterns resulting in the multi-locality of livelihoods; and the multi-dimensionality of poverty in the Global South. His previous research focused on the commercialization of agriculture, environmental management, pastoral livelihoods and resource conflicts among peasants and pastoralists, with an emphasis on Mrica. Leo J. de Haan is the former Director of the African Studies Centre Leiden and Professor of Development in Sub-Sahara Africa at Leiden University. Before directing ASC Leiden he was Professor of Development Studies at Radboud University Nijmegen and Director ofthe Centre for International Development Issues Nijmegen (CIDIN).