The social function principle has played an important role in
land reform initiatives throughout Latin America, yet it has been
the subject of relatively little scholarly research outside of the legal
field. Thus,the objective ofthe present study is not so much to test a
preexisting body of hypotheses as to explore empirically, drawing
on a variety of qualitative and quantitative sources, the development
of this principle in a country where it has an unusually rich
history. Hopefully, this exercise will both illuminate directions for
future research and provide guidance to policymakers in countries
where experience with this principle is more limited.