Applying resilience thinking to questions of policy for pastoralist systems : lessons from the Gabra of Northern Kenya

Date

2010

Journal Title

Journal ISSN

Volume Title

Publisher

Springer Science+Business Media

Abstract

The aim of this paper is to explore the relevance of a systematic application of resilience thinking to questions of pastoralist policy, a task that requires taking the concept of resilience beyond the level of a metaphor and operationalizing it. One approach to accomplishing this is the components-relationships-innovation-continuity framework (Cumming et al. 2005), which, in this paper, we apply to analysis of the social-ecological system of the Gabra people in north-central Kenya. While some types of indicators, such as those monitored by humanitarian information systems, can help to identify when the resilience of a system has been eroded, indicators of the components, relationships, and sources of innovation and continuity help o make clear the dynamics of how resilience is being lost. In the case of the Gabra, our analysis suggests that there is a need to envision a third alternative—a stability domain that is distinct both from traditional pastoralism whose viability has been undermined and from the perversely resilient poverty trap that is coming to dominate. While this kind of conclusion may not be new, a resilience-based analysis helps to uncover specific details regarding what such a third alternative might entail and what kinds of policy levers might help to make it possible.

Description

This is an author-formatted copy. The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com. Page numbering in this document does not correspond to the original publication.

Keywords

GABRA, PASTORALISTS, POLICY, RESILIENCE, THRESHOLDS, ADAPTATION--PSYCHOLOGICAL, KENYA, POVERTY

Citation

Robinson, L.W., & Berkes, F. (2010). Applying Resilience Thinking to Questions of Policy for Pastoralist Systems: Lessons from the Gabra of Northern Kenya. Human Ecology, 38, 335-350.doi:10.1007/s10745-010-9327-1

DOI