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Open Access Publications from the University of California

This working paper series was inspired by two online curriculum projects of the Center for African Studies: Understanding Sudan and Understanding the Horn of Africa. The projects provide university-level curriculum addressing issues affecting the countries of Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia, and Sudan. These papers offer background information and case studies that support the various curriculum modules. The two projects aim to cultivate academic interest and to seed future experts on this critical region.

Cover page of Pastoralism in the Horn of Africa: Classic and Current Issues ~ Curriculum Unit Guide

Pastoralism in the Horn of Africa: Classic and Current Issues ~ Curriculum Unit Guide

(2013)

This curriculum unit explores classic issues confronted by pastoralists in the Horn of Africa as well as continuity and change to the contemporary moment. Developed for the Understanding the Horn online curriculum project, this guide provides an overview to the material available on the http://understandingthehorn.org/.

Cover page of The Future of Pastoralism in Turkana District, Kenya

The Future of Pastoralism in Turkana District, Kenya

(2005)

This was a response to the request from Hanna Gooren and a group of other students at Wageningen University, the Netherlands, to provide my view and opinion regarding an “ethical issue” they had been asked to research and to prepare a joint paper.  The research question was: “Should pastoral nomads in Turkana District be supported or has their livelihood become too hopeless?

Cover page of Which Route to Follow?”

Which Route to Follow?”

(1987)

This chapter is ashort story about pastoralists in Kenya based on real events that is intended to provide the reader with a deeper and closer sense of the people and issues involved. It presented here at part of the UnderstandingtheHorn.org online curriculum project.

Cover page of East African Pastoralists

East African Pastoralists

(1984)

Over the fifteen years prior to the 1984 publication of this article, East African pastoralists faced food shortages and famine. From the perspective of the mid-1980s, this article analyzes the challenges to solving this problem. Modernization had disrupted already inadequate traditional food systems and continued to threaten pastoralists. "Pastoral development" had been proposed as a means of achieving long-term food security by increasing pastoralists' involvement in national food and economic systems. If pastoral development was to become reality, however, daunting obstacles had to be overcome. Halderman warns that if solutions were not found and implemented there could be heavy costs to the region's pastoralists and governments. Contemporary students of pastoralism can evaluate whether progress was made or not.