Modernist Land Development-Induced Villagisation: Deconstructing Socio-Economic Rights of Pastoralists in South Omo, Ethiopia

Based on an ethnographic case study of Bodi and Mursi pastoralist responses to sugar industries in South Omo, Ethiopia, this study aimed to comprehend the approach of a modernist land development-induced villagisation programme and its effect on the socio-economic rights of pastoralists. The article probes how and why land development activities and the related villagisation programme in the pastoral lowlands created structural challenges and marginalised people’s socio-economic rights. The findings establish grounded insights into the modernist nature of land development-induced villagisation and the village-centred approach of the government in the reconstruction of socio-economic rights of the pastoralists. Integral to the state’s approach are ‘state-centred’ narratives, guiding principles, actor participation, and outcomes of the villagisation programme. This modernist and state-dominated programme is shown conflicting goals; flawed assumptions; poor design; disregard for the complex social and environmental factors of the South Omo lowlands; and disruptive social mobilisation and implementation methods. It obstructs effective consideration of the agency, livelihood, traditions and knowledge of the pastoralists, thus leading to outcomes that deconstruct the socio-economic rights of the pastoralists.