This book gives a view of ‘development at the margins’ in the pastoral areas of the Horn of Africa. Edited by Andy Catley, Jeremy Lind and Ian Scoones, Pastoralism and Development In Africa highlights innovation and entrepreneurialism, cooperation, networking and diverse approaches which are rarely in line with standard development prescriptions. (Description en français)
Through 20 detailed empirical chapters, the book highlights diverse pathways of development beyond the standard narratives.
Paperback, £24.95 GBP
Buy online (discount code: PDA20)
This book is part of the STEPS Centre’s Pathways to Sustainability book series.
Video
In this short video, the book’s contributors talk about the changing landscape of pastoralism in the Horn of Africa. This video includes clips of the book’s editors Jeremy Lind and Ian Scoones, and chapter authors Hussein Mahmoud and John Letai.
About the book
Once again, the Horn of Africa has been in the headlines. And once again the news has been bad: drought, famine, conflict, hunger, suffering and death. The finger of blame has been pointed in numerous directions: to the changing climate, to environmental degradation, to overpopulation, to geopolitics and conflict, to aid agency failures, and more. But it is not all disaster and catastrophe. Many successful development efforts at ‘the margins’ often remain hidden, informal, sometimes illegal; and rarely in line with standard development prescriptions. If we shift our gaze from the capital cities to the regional centres and their hinterlands, then a very different perspective emerges. These are the places where pastoralists live. They have for centuries struggled with drought, conflict and famine. They are resourceful, entrepreneurial and innovative peoples. Yet they have been ignored and marginalised by the states that control their territory and the development agencies who are supposed to help them. This book argues that, while we should not ignore the profound difficulties of creating secure livelihoods in the Greater Horn of Africa, there is much to be learned from development successes, large and small.
This book will be of great interest to students and scholars with an interest in development studies and human geography, with a particular emphasis on Africa. It will also appeal to development policy-makers and practitioners.
En français: description du livre
Ce livre fournit un aperçu du « développement des zones en marge » dans les régions pastorales de la corne de l’Afrique. Édité par Andy Catley, Jeremy Lind et Ian Scoones, Pastoralism and Development In Africa (le pastoralisme et le développement en Afrique) souligne l’innovation et l’entrepreneuriat, la coopération, la constitution de réseaux et les diverses approches rarement conformes aux recommandations standards en termes de développement.
Tout au long des 20 chapitres empiriques et détaillés, le livre présente plusieurs directions pour le développement, au-delà de la simple description classique.
Livre de poche, 24,95 ? (GBP)
Acheter en ligne
Ce livre fait partie de la série Pathways to Sustainability (les voies vers la durabilité) du STEPS Centre.
Ce livre sera très utile aux étudiants et aux spécialistes intéressés par les études sur le développement et la géographie humaine, principalement centré sur l’Afrique. Il intéressera également les responsables politiques et les spécialistes dans le domaine du développement.
Media
- The Guardian: “A new book…makes the case that policymakers and donors need to shift their ‘gaze to the margins, away from the capital cities where the development and policy elite congregate’.” Read more on the Guardian Development blog
- New Agriculturist: “This book does much to provide policymakers, advisors and donors with the basis of a better understanding of pastoralist life and priorities.” Read more at New Agriculturist
- Ian Scoones blogs for the Institute of Development Studies: “Pastoralism can be modern, efficient and highly profitable too, and out-compete the alternatives many times over.” Read the full article at the IDS website
- Ian Scoones blogs at the Huffington Post: “The dryland areas of the Horn are therefore changing fast, but development efforts are not keeping up. If we shift our gaze to the margins…the range of innovative activity is phenomenal.” Read the full Huffington Post blog
- AlertNet: Interview with Ian Scoones by Katie Murray. Read the full interview
- Hussein Mahmoud talks to New Agriculturist about how pastoralists respond to changes in the camel trade. Read the article at New Agriculturist
Reviews
This book drives home the tremendous scale and pace of change in African pastoralism. Grounded in authoritative knowledge of general context, as well as incisive analysis of social and historical particularities, the book spans resources and production, commercialisation and markets, land and conflict, established and emerging alternative livelihoods.
Katherine Homewood, Professor of Anthropology, University College London
This book is essential reading for anyone concerned with the future of pastoralism in Africa. It will provide important guidance for both policymakers and development practitioners.
Hon. Ahmed Shide, MP, State Minister, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Ethiopia
There is a rich array of case studies in this book, which capture the vitality and innovation of pastoral societies. They are a welcome antidote to the negativity that infects far too much of the discourse on pastoralism.
Hon. Mohamed Elmi, MP, Minister of State for Development of Northern Kenya and other Arid Lands
This book shows how innovative and dynamic changes are occurring in pastoralist areas in response to increasing livestock marketing opportunities, domestically, regionally and internationally, and these changes are providing substantial, but often hidden, economic benefits.
Dr. Abebe Haile Gabriel, Director, Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture, African Union Commission
Order online
- Order the book from the Routledge website (discount code: PDA20)
- Other books in the Pathways to Sustainability series