The importance of socio-cultural differences and of pathway analysis for understanding local actors' responses

Bruijn, M.E. de; Dijk, J.W.M. van (2004)

Part of book or chapter of book

The enormous diversity of responses to the drought conditions in the Sahel in the last thirty years makes it difficult to formulate general conclusions about people's responses to climate change. It is important to study the pathways of decisionmaking units at the micro-level and even at individual level and to emphasize the socioeconomic differences in changing patterns of responses and the gradual changes in people's 'habitus'. To understand the options available to people it is wise to focus on the technological changes in land use, the changes in the control over resources, migration and mobility, the trends of livelihood diversification and institutional change. The chapter is based on recent and ongoing research in Kaya (Burkina Faso), and Koutiala and Douentza (both in Mali). Summary. [Book abstract]

• Burkina Faso
• Mali
• livelihoods
• risk
• climate change

• All authors: Bruijn, M.E. de; Dijk, J.W.M. van
• Date: 2004
• Title of host publication: Environment and Policy; The impact of climate change on drylands: with a focus on West Africa
• Pages: 341 - 362
• ISBN (print): 9789048165483
• Link: http://hdl.handle.net/1887/9663