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Ethnic Tensions (ethnic + tension)

Distribution by Scientific Domains
Humanities and Social Sciences50%

Selected Abstracts

Is sustainable development based on agriculture attainable in Kenya?

LAND DEGRADATION AND DEVELOPMENT, Issue 5 2001
A multidisciplinary case study of Murang'a district
Abstract Kenya's development seems trapped in a vicious circle caused by soil erosion, declining soil fertility, land fragmentation, fluctuating agricultural production, widespread poverty, corruption, ethnic tension, rapid population, urban growth and a declining economy. The development challenge is to reverse the negative effects of these processes and promote sustainable development. This paper, based on multidisciplinary work discusses whether sustainable development based on agriculture is attainable in Murang'a district in Kenya's Central Highlands. Firstly, it investigates some biophysical aspects of sustainable agriculture such as land use across time, soil nutrient status and yield, cultivated crops and soil productivity by analysing aerial photographs and soil samples and conducting interviews. It suggests that the area has gone through major biophysical changes. Second, it relates the farmers' attitude to promotion of sustainable development as carried out by the National Soil and Water Conservation Programme. It suggests that farmers carry ideas of corruption, often following ethnic lines that hampers efficient implementation of the extension advise. Finally, it identifies links behind rural-urban migration by estimating households' probability of generating incomes outside the farm, typically in urban areas. Opportunistic farming, manifested by temporary reduction of farming on own land to satisfy immediate income needs, is very common among farmers. More needs to be done to promote agro-based, small-scale rural industries, improve agricultural management practices, facilitate appropriate credits, enhance marketing opportunities, ensure timely crop payments, and increase participation in decision making. It is important to realize that for farmers to embrace policies which promote agriculturely-based sustainable development the policies ought to biophysically possible, socio-politically acceptable and economically feasible. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source]

Coping Strategies Developed as a Result of Social Structure and Conflict: Kosovo in the 1990s

DISASTERS, Issue 2 2000
Kate Ogden
The end of 1989 brought with it political and economic decisions which resulted in Kosovo being stripped of its autonomy and the Albanian population being expelled from their jobs. These facts combined with ethnic tensions created a decade of conflict and oppression affecting hundreds of thousands of innocent civilians. Thousands of Kosovars moved overseas to seek work to support families at home, altering the way of life of the population of Kosovo irredeemably. The loss of income had serious repercussions on food security throughout the 1990s; possibilities of purchasing food were diminished, control on goods in 1998 reduced availability of foodstuffs, conflict affected accessibility to markets and shops and consequently food intake and nutritional status was compromised. The most vulnerable were those who had no family members overseas. Mass displacement of population due to ethnic cleansing during the war of spring 1999, further jeopardised food security status. Destruction at this time rendered large parts of Kosovo useless and resulted in a shift in the determinant of vulnerability in the post-war period: destruction of houses, land, livestock and agricultural products as well as loss of family members, became a far more pertinent indicator of food insecurity. The strong and clear links between conflict, socio-economic issues and food security are highlighted and discussed in this paper. [source]

Impact of land use changes on water resources and biodiversity of Lake Nakuru catchment basin, Kenya

AFRICAN JOURNAL OF ECOLOGY, Issue 2009
Jackson Akama Raini
Abstract Lake Nakuru, Kenya, is one of a series of saline,alkaline closed basin lakes in the eastern arm of the Rift Valley. The lake has been variously described as ,the lake of a million flamingos' and ,the Worlds greatest ornithological spectacle' and is bedrock to the areas' tourism. The lake was designated a bird sanctuary in 1960, a National Park in 1968, first rhino sanctuary in 1987, first Kenyan Ramsar site in 1990, an Important Bird Area in 1999 and a world-class national park in 2005. Over the last 40 years, its basin has been heavily settled, extensively cultivated, urbanized and industrialized. Environmental problems include poor agricultural practices, human encroachment, pollution, wildlife mortality/morbidity, human/wildlife conflicts, poverty, ethnic tensions and land clashes and lack of adequate legal and policy framework. Approaches to conservation have been initiated against identified existing problems and constraints. These approaches are (i) organizational and institutional development; (ii) hot spots and pollution loads management and (iii) catchment and park management. Constraints have been identified as unclear demarcation of responsibilities, lack of budget, skilled staff and know-how and lack of environmental standards and regulations. The impacts of ecosystem changes on people's lives and livelihoods are discussed. [source]

An Eleventh-Century View of Chinese Ethnic Policy: Sima Guang on the Fall of Western Jin

JOURNAL OF HISTORICAL SOCIOLOGY, Issue 3 2007
MARK STRANGE
It fell to these barbarian usurpers in 317. Throughout the eleventh century, the Northern Song dynasty (960,1127) felt its sovereignty endangered by foreign states to the north. Parallels between the ethnic policies of Western Jin and Northern Song emerge from the representation of Western Jin's dynastic fortunes that the eleventh-century statesman and historian Sima Guang (1019,1086) offered in his famous chronicle, Zizhi tongjian (A Comprehensive Mirror to Aid Government). The present article takes that text as its focus. It examines the textual and ideological spin that Sima Guang gave his account of fourth-century ethnic tensions. It argues that his characterisation of the barbarians that threatened Western Jin resonated with his response to eleventh-century foreign relations. And it shows that for Sima Guang the integrity of the Chinese imperial state, and even Chinese identity, was at stake. [source]