Under force majeure : pastoralists and Covid-19 in Mediterranean Europe

Abstract

The COVID-19 crisis generates uncertainties we seem unable to bear and manage. It also serves to provoke deep insights into societal dynamics, contributes to unveiling hidden fragilities as well as capacities and reflects on our diverse lifestyles and opportunities. This crisis challenges the main pillars of our society: it affects mobility, sociality, relationships and exchanges. Pastoralists, whose economy is mobile and involves deep interdependency, are particularly vulnerable to such conditions. But they show, as well, specific capacities and skills that we all could learn from about ‘living with uncertainty’, as is the mandate of the PASTRES project.