The evolving interface between pastoralism and uncertainty : reflecting on cases from three continents

Abstract

This paper explores how pastoral systems have changed over time, drawing on six cases from across the world that are the focus of the PASTRES research programme: southern Tunisia, Sardinians in central Italy, Isiolo in northern Kenya, Kutch in India, Borana in Ethiopia, and Amdo Tibet in China. The paper builds on an earlier analysis that identified five principles underpinning pastoral systems, drawing from the wider literature. These were: adaptive herd management, livelihood mosaics, persisting mobility, reticular territories, and articulated social networks. The paper asks whether these principles endure today, even if the form of pastoralism has changed. The paper finds that to assure reliability of production and livelihoods, in each case pastoralists’ practices, strategies, and relations have been altered to respond to new conditions of uncertainty arising from changing environmental, market, and socio-political contexts. While the approaches to responding to uncertainty have transformed – including through expanding livelihood activities beyond local territories – in most cases the previously identified core principles of pastoralism persist. However, there are limits to this adaptability and, in some instances, new responses have been insufficient. A big challenge for development policy therefore is to provide support for the successful operation of the core pastoral principles, so that reliable livelihoods can be assured for pastoralists across the world.