Farmer-pastoralist conflicts management approaches in Sub-Saharan Africa: Insights into their strengths and pitfalls
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Date
2022
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Academic Journals
Abstract
This article provides a critical review of the different theoretical perspectives on the existing conflict
management mechanisms. Focus has been paid on the dynamics surrounding these mechanisms in
relation to the changing contexts and times. The primary aim is: First, to identify what is already known
about the available conflict-management mechanisms for handling farmer-pastoralist conflicts
including the current direction of the research; second, to develop a relevant synthesis framework that
can: (a) reflect the strengths and pitfalls of the available conflict management mechanisms in relation to
the changing nature of the conflicts, (b) inform the development and analysis of case study research on
the relevance of the existing mechanisms for conflict management in relation to the nature of the
conflicts; third, to clarify key areas of discussion and further inquiry on conflict management
mechanisms to which this review might usefully contribute. The article draws from critical literature,
theoretical and case study analysis to gain an insight into dynamics surrounding farmer-pastoral
conflicts management approaches. The central question guiding this discussion is ‘what dynamics
surround farmer-pastoral conflict management mechanisms across varying contexts and times in sub-
Saharan Africa? The article concludes that there is hardly any single mechanism capable of addressing
the different causes of the farmer–pastoralist conflicts and more so in varying contexts and times. This
situation suggests complementarity as perhaps a relevant approach for meaningful farmer-pastoralist
conflicts management.
Description
Journal of African Studies and Development Vol. 14(1), pp. 12-26,
Keywords
Conflicts, Farmer-pastoralist, Conflict management, Traditional institutions, Collective action, Traditional mechanisms, Natural resources, Decentralization, Policies, Interventions