Overview
Landlocked countries, by definition, are those that do not possess any seacoast. They are also among the most disadvantaged and underachieving countries in the world. As even a cursory examination of global economic activities during the past decade will reveal, being divorced from the sea has imposed tremendous negativities on the socio-economic development of these countries. Landlocked developing countries (LLDCs) have found themselves increasingly marginalized in a Darwinian world economy. For LLDCs, the "death of distance", so ubiquitously and optimistically touted in recent times, is more fiction than fact.In Geography Against Development, the authors attempt to analyse the impact of geographical handicaps on external trade and economic development of landlocked developing countries and identify practical solutions to address them. The book is divided into four chapters. Chapter 1 analyses factors that hamper the effective participation of landlocked developing countries in international trade and economic development. Chapter 2 examines the corridor approach for establishing efficient transit systems and outlines the challenges faced and efforts made in different landlocked subregions. Chapter 3 describes major international conventions that are essential for securing freedom of transit and day-to-day transit operations. Chapter 4 outlines international support measures for establishing efficient transit transport systems.