The anti-nomadic bias of political theory

Abstract

Over the last couple of decades, the conditions of life for nomadic peoples have been radically rethought (Devore & Lee, 1999). Contrary to what we once were told, the lives of hunters, gatherers and pastoralists are generally not “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short” (Hobbes, 1651, i:13, p. 84). Rather, barring environmental calamities, their lives are sociable, rich, pleasant, sophisticated and long. Gatherers are not desperately digging for roots and hunters are not chasing wild geese. Instead hunters and gatherers have traditionally lived in abundant environments where looking for food is similar to looking for something to eat in a refrigerator (Turnbull, 1984, pp. 96–108). Their days can be spent on leisurely activities, and when food is required, they simply go and get it...