Towards a Sociology of Adaptation to Rainfall Variability in Rural Zimbabwe： The Case of Charewa in Mutoko

作     者：Sandra Bhatasara 

作者机构：Sociology Department University of Zimbabwe P.O. Box MP 167 MT Pleasant HarareZimbabwe 

出 版 物：《Fudan Journal of the Humanities and Social Sciences》 (复旦人文社会科学论丛（英文版）)

年 卷 期：2017年第10卷第4期

页      面：547-568页

学科分类：0303[法学-社会学] 0501[文学-中国语言文学] 0502[文学-外国语言文学] 03[法学] 1301[艺术学-艺术学理论] 0101[哲学-哲学] 

基　　金：Rhodes University 

主　　题：Rainfall variability Farmers Adaptation Sociology Reflexivity 

摘      要：Rainfall variability has introduced new challenges for farmers in rural Zimbabwe, who are already facing various difficulties in maintaining their insecure livelihoods. Yet, current adaptation theories and inquiries have failed to sufficiently account for and analyse how these farmers are responding to changing climatic conditions. In this respect, a number of studies have been heavily embedded in deterministic concepts and fail to take into account the structures, processes and conditions underpinning adaptation processes. As such, based on an empirical case study and using qualitative data collection methods such as life history interviews, this paper argues that the process of adaptation is ostensibly not straightforward but complex. As it evolves, farmers find themselves facing numerous constraining structures and processes. What is critical is that they are able to circumvent the constraints presented to them and at the same time activate the corresponding enablements. Sociologically then, adaptation is an evolving, complex and reflexive process.