Resisting uncertainty: transhumant pastoralism and socio-ecological transitions in the Argentine Andes

Abstract

Transhumant pastoralism represents a socio-ecological system shaped by mobility, uncertainty, and resilience. Drawing on 5 years of ethnographic research in Malargüe, Argentina—the country’s primary region for goat transhumance—this article explores how peasant families sustain their livelihoods and territorial presence amid environmental variability, extractive pressures, and institutional neglect. Engaging with Latin American political ecology, peasant studies, and theories of socio-ecological transitions, the paper reframes transhumance as a contemporary and adaptive livelihood strategy, rather than a remnant of the past. It foregrounds mobile territorialities, subsistence ethics, and vernacular governance as forms of resistance and resilience. In doing so, the article contributes to current debates on resilience, justice, uncertainty, and ecological transitions from below, offering grounded insights for reimagining pastoral policy and socio-ecological governance in the Andean drylands. The findings underscore the need for flexible governance systems that support pastoral mobility and recognize the socio-ecological value of transhumance.