The crisis of pastoralism and the role of the State: trends and issues

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Book chapter

Title:	The crisis of pastoralism and the role of the State: trends and issues
Authors:	Doornbos, M. Markakis, J.
Book title:	Pastoral economies in Africa and long-term responses to drought
Year:	1991
Pages:	270-278
Language:	English
Geographic term:	Somalia
Subjects:	pastoralists agricultural policy
Abstract:	This paper aims at a preliminary exploration of the political dimensions of the crisis of African pastoralism, with particular reference to the Horn. Economic and political forces have combined to push pastoralism to the margin of society in East Africa. This situation is the result of glaring contradictions between the requirements of a traditional society for survival, on the one hand, and on the other, the State's need to assert its authority throughout its domain and to determine a strategy for development. One of the consequences of this phenomenon is widespread pastoralist alienation from the States that claim them as their subjects, which has led to lawlessness and outright rebellion. The second part of the paper reflects upon some aspects of the changing relationships between pastoralists and the State in Somalia, with special attention to the shift of the social basis of power away from the pastoralist domain to that of the new urban-based ruling classes. Bibliogr., sum.