Conflict Dynamics in Pastoral Lands

Sociologically, conflict is "struggle over values and claims to scarce status, power and resources". Land, as a most valuable asset and a source of wealth and power, a basis for livelihood, a subject for geopolitical purposes, a matter of territorial importance, and a substance for cultural identity, is introduced as a subject of conflict in communal pastoral lands of Milan's nomadic tribe in North-west part of Iran. Three actors are recognized in the field that have conflict over the lands; State, nomads, and peasants. According to findings, there is a chaos in pastoral lands property rights. State as the sole power in control and management of pastures has no legitimacy among the two other actors. Conflicts are around economic, historical, political incentives, but differentiated meaning systems also is the source of conflict and inconsistencies among the actors. Conflict with other actors has no cohesive consequence in the nomadic tribe of Milan but led to a condition of severe irresponsibility against the nature (pasture) and community as well.

Autorentext

Dr. Bagher Hoseinpour was born in Urmia-Iran. He studied in Sociology at Universities of Allameh Tabatabaei and Isfahan. He completed his Ph.D program in Sociology in Middle East Technical University-Turkey. He is a Scientific Board in Agricultural Research Education and Extention Organization-Iran: Urmia. His main interest is environmental issues.

Klappentext

Sociologically, conflict is struggle over values and claims to scarce status, power and resources . Land, as a most valuable asset and a source of wealth and power, a basis for livelihood, a subject for geopolitical purposes, a matter of territorial importance, and a substance for cultural identity, is introduced as a subject of conflict in communal pastoral lands of Milan s nomadic tribe in North-west part of Iran. Three actors are recognized in the field that have conflict over the lands; State, nomads, and peasants. According to findings, there is a chaos in pastoral lands property rights. State as the sole power in control and management of pastures has no legitimacy among the two other actors. Conflicts are around economic, historical, political incentives, but differentiated meaning systems also is the source of conflict and inconsistencies among the actors. Conflict with other actors has no cohesive consequence in the nomadic tribe of Milan but led to a condition of severe irresponsibility against the nature (pasture) and community as well.