The majority of the population of South-East Asia depends on the land for its living. Land is held in a multitude of different ways- through tribal custom, as individual owner-occupier units, through plantations; in many parts of the region landlessness is a major social and political issue. Using a wide range of case studies, the authors examine the different landholding systems of the region and argue that a combination of traditional and reformed tenure systemsoffers the best prospects for improving the welfare of the rural population.