Changing conflict resolution institutions in the Ethiopian pastoral commons: the role of armed confrontation in rule-making Jon D. Unruh Department of Geography, McGill University, 805 Sherbrooke St W., Montreal, Quebec, Canada H3A 2K6, (Tel.: +1-514-398-4111; Fax: +1-514-398-7437; E-mail: jon.unruh@mcgill.ca) Key words: Africa, Ethiopia, common property, armed conflict, institutions, pastoralism Abstract Pastoralist access and use of common grazing resources in the Horn of Africa increasingly include armed con- frontation over diminishing resources and reduced access. This comes about as traditional customary institutions (sets of rules) for commons management become compromised due to the presence of outside influences and actors which significantly change both resource availability, and conceptions about who is subject to traditional rules governing commons – particularly rules associated with exclusion. At the same time a combination of local knowledge regarding what happens to open access commons (degradation), a reluctance to give up control of commons and associated ways of life, and armed conflict as a viable alternative for exclusion rules, provide for combative situations and large costs. While a great deal of valuable work has been accomplished regarding the derivation of effective institutions to better manage commons, situations of armed conflict can seem particularly distant from effective rule-making, because few institutions can endure the stresses of armed conflict. Recent developments in Ethiopia however suggest an unexpected proximity between armed confrontation and the prospect for commons management rule-making. With examples from the Afar, Somali and Karamojong Cluster pasto- ralists, this paper examines the ingredients for rule-making in combative commons situations. Specific coincident forms of state recognition, donor flexibility, perceptions of the cost of conflict, and the local to international reaction to these, are examined for their utility and limitations in the provision of a facilitating context for institution derivation for commons management. Introduction The dissolution of effective conflict resolution institu- tions in the Horn of Africa and the resulting insecurity has impacted significantly on the region’s stability, food security, resource management, and vulnerability to a variety of problematic economic and political influences. Pastoralism is a primary form of livelihood in the Horn and the management of pastoral commons is particu- larly difficult in terms of conflict and conflict resolution (Fratkin, 1994; Gebre-Mariam, 1994; Ocan, 1994; Salih, 1994; Unruh, 1995a). While problems in the commons can often be seen as falling out along group lines (ethnic, clan), access and use of common property resources (CPRs) play a fundamental role in pastoral livelihood, identity, and conflict (Gadamu, 1994; Gebre-Mariam, 1994; Ocan, 1994; Salih, 1994; Unruh, 1995b). Much valuable work has been accomplished regarding the management of CPRs generally (e.g., McKay and Acheson, 1987; Berks, 1989; Lawry, 1990; Ostrom, 1990, Ostrom et al., 1999; Agrawal, 2001a, b; Ostrom et al., 2001; Johnson, 2004), and pastoral resources specifically (e.g., Runge, 1981; Warren, 1995; Mearns, 1996; Frat- kin, 1997; Lesorogol, 2003; Hoffmann, 2004). But because few institutions can endure the stresses of armed conflict (Ostrom, 1999), conflict prone areas such as the Horn can seem particularly distant from opportunities to derive workable institutional arrangements able to effectively manage contested commonly held land. Recent developments in Ethiopia however hint at a surprisingly close proximity between armed conflict and derivation of institutions (sets of rules) for resolving disputes and managing contested pastoral commons. Despite the large body of work that has examined many aspects of CPR management, to date the relationship between armed conflict and CPR management has not been attended to. This is unfortunate given the preva- lence of armed conflict in and over CPRs, particularly in Africa. Using the relevant literature together with fieldwork, this paper presents three cases of armed confrontation over pastoral commons in Ethiopia and the develop- ments which have led to significant opportunities for conflict resolution and rule-making. Subsequent to a GeoJournal (2005) 64: 225–237 Ó Springer 2006 DOI 10.1007/s10708-005-5650-2