Anthropological Seminar No. 42 / Humanities Seminar of Conflict No. 101

The Political Ecology of Development: Competing perceptions of 'resources', livelihoods, and state-making in Southwest Ethiopia

Date: 27th July 2016 (Wed) 16:30-18:00
Location: Room 106, East Wing, Graduate School of Human Sciences,
               Osaka University (Suita)
    * Admission Free / No Reservations Necessary

Contact: Graduate School of Human Sciences, Osaka University
               E-mail: anthro@hus.osaka-u.ac.jp

Speaker:
Jon Abbink (Prof.)
The African Studies Centre, Leiden University

Abstract:
   In Ethiopia, new state development plans targeting agro-pastoralist areas and populations are being implemented. This paper discusses the political ecology of development in Southwest Ethiopia, revealing a process of comprehensive developmental restructuring, consisting of a package of land alienation and confiscation, plantation development, displacement, and 'villagization'. The process exemplifies the use of economic marshalled for state-building.