This book views land reforms from a historical perspective It argues that the success or failure of land reforms can only be judged by the role the reforms play in the historical development of the agrarian structure. As such a legislation which sounds radical when viewed in isolation can, in the context of a given agrarian structure, merely play the role of strengthening the hands of the already dominant classes. Based on the Karnataka experience, the book points out that the successful implementation of land legislation in the seventies was possible because it not only did not hurt the interests of the dominant classes in general, but, in most of Karnataka, benefitted them in substantial measure. Since the legislation was termed radical it was supported by the left forces in the State and thus effectively played the role of pre-empting fundamental change.