ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book focuses on knowledge about pastoralism in African drylands, exploring how problematic the notions of 'non-equilibrium ecology' and 'nomadism' are for scholars and policy makers. It argues that the construction of knowledge(s) for agroecology, biocultural diversity and food sovereignty partly depends on fundamental changes in the 'ways of knowing' and 'ways of working' of research institutions and natural resource management bureaucracies. The book draws on a wealth of historical and anthropological evidence to show how mainstream economic science rests on quasi-religious beliefs and assumptions that are deeply committed to commodifying social relations and nature. It shows how the un-muting of peoples' knowledge and realities can help transform the nature of knowledge to support the goals of self-determination, food sovereignty and biocultural diversity.
