January 2026: New article on "social tipping points" in pastoral systems

A new article by Diego A. Menestrey Schwieger explores the concept of "social tipping points" to analyze livestock losses among Ovaherero pastoralists in Namibia's eastern communal areas. Using a qualitative, ethnographic approach, the paper examines region-specific social and ecological factors that contribute to these hardships, highlighting people’s experiences. This includes their perspectives on what it means to 'lose everything' and their efforts to rebuild their herds. The article also discusses strategies to prevent other households from facing similar issues and considers how pastoral lifestyles can be sustained despite ongoing rangeland degradation and climate change. Based on these insights, the paper critically assesses whether the observed social dynamics constitute tipping points and evaluates the usefulness of this concept for explaining these processes.

The full paper, which was published on Pastoralism, can be found here.