Routledge Handbook of Pastoralism
https://WebToolTip.com English | 2026 | ISBN: 1032784350 | 546 pages | True PDF,EPUB | 14.46 MB
This handbook provides a comprehensive and authoritative overview of pastoralism, combining major theoretical debates with an interdisciplinary and comparative perspective on pastoral systems across the world.
Approaching pastoralism as a social-ecological system, this volume synthesizes current knowledge about how pastoralists make a living and organize social life while managing herds in diverse and often highly variable environments. Understanding pastoralism in this holistic way requires an approach that bridges disciplines: not only anthropology but also rangeland ecology, animal science, agricultural economics, veterinary epidemiology, and related fields. This handbook’s chapters are organized into eight parts that examine the emergence of pastoralism; its biophysical foundations; the economics of pastoral production; adaptive strategies; social and political organization; new methodological and analytical approaches; development and policy perspectives; and possible futures for pastoral systems. Together, these contributions advance the field by offering both a state-of-the-art guide and a source of inspiration for future research. This volume is designed to serve as a reference for scholars seeking to launch innovative, impactful studies, as well as for policymakers and practitioners working to design effective interventions that support pastoral livelihoods.