Dynamics of Law, Culture and Society in the Organisation of Land and Water Distribution among Rural Farmers in Karatu District/Northern Tanzania Inaugural-Dissertation zur Erlangung des Doktorgrades der Philosophischen Fakultät der Universität zu Köln im Fach Ethnologie vorgelegt von Anne-Christina Achterberg-Boness aus Stolzenau Köln, im Oktober 2016 i Erste(r) Referent(in): ____________________________________Prof. Dr. Michael Bollig Zweite(r) Referent(in): ____________________________________Prof. Dr. Martin Rössler Dritte(r) Referent(in): ____________________________________Prof. Dr. Thomas Widlok Datum der mündlichen Prüfung: ____________________________________2.2.2017 ii Acknowledgements I want to thank everyone who helped me create this dissertation. Asanteni sana! First I want to thank the people from Karatu/Tanzania: John Mahu whom I got to know through my networks of the evangelic Lutheran Church and who then paved the way to Endamarariek for me with all administrative support he could give as a ward councillor. Furthermore my thanks go to the priests of the catholic mission with whom I shared meals and good stories and in particular to Desderi, with whom it was just lovely to watch his favourite Celine Dion music clips after a long day of work. Then it is my pleasure to thank my Frauen-WG in the Nyumba ya Amani with whom I lived and my three helpers Mama Mrema, Emmanuel and Gabrielli. Then there is my friend James. He came all the way to see me and to bring a big box of fresh vegetables for the “poor vegetarian” losing weight during drought. And there is Kristen – with whom I shared the experience of a mzungu working in a drought-prone setting, later reflecting jointly on the particularities of this place. Back in Cologne/Germany, my thanks go to my supervisor Prof. Michael Bollig for his support and for forwarding me to Irit Eguavoen to whom I’m so much obliged for letting my ego grow until I could just formulate what I really thought. I also thank Prof. Rössler for being my second supervisor and Prof. Widlok for being my third supervisor as well as Jörg Hilgers for giving me important insights on the water management in Karatu. Now – this is the space for thanking my Marienburg loved ones Thekla, Kristiane, Sara, Diego, Bea, Johanna, and all the other beautiful colleagues with whom I didn’t share just an office but delicious food, inspiring discussions and real good parties, too. I don’t want to frustrate future Phds by elaborating on how challenging it is, both in scientific and in personal ways, to write a PhD. But there is good news: There are friends and family that will carry you through! In my case there were Britta, Dominika, Leo, Steve, Artus, Frank, Shavu, Jan- Ole, Fridjof, Aaron, Ulla, Inke, Hans, Annette, the Marienburg crew and so many others. I thank my computer for not bending its knees in the face of this heavy load of programs and web- sides being opened at once and sucking the live energy out of it. And I apologise to people that miss their names on this page – please forgive me – when I wrote the acknowledgements I was already out of my mind. Last but not least, this dissertation would never have been possible without the support and help of my muse and the love of my life Artus Achterberg. iii Table of Contents List of Figures .................................................................................................... viii List of Tables ...................................................................................................... ix List of Boxes ....................................................................................................... ix List of Maps ........................................................................................................ x List of Acronyms ................................................................................................. x 1. Introduction .................................................................................................... 1 1.1. The Impact of Local State Administration on Rural Land Organisation ..................... 2 1.2. Significance of the Study ............................................................................................. 4 1.3. Analytical Approach of the Study ............................................................................... 6 1.3.1. Historical Context in Land and Water Governance ............................................. 7 1.3.2. The Extent to which Rules and Forums Influence Practice in 2009/2010......... 10 1.4. Research Design ........................................................................................................ 13 1.4.1. Framework of the Research .............................................................................. 13 1.4.2. Methods of Data Collection ............................................................................... 13 1.5. Structure of this Work .............................................................................................. 13 2. Theoretical Background ................................................................................. 16 2.1. Rules and Law ........................................................................................................... 18 2.1.1. Rules .................................................................................................................. 18 2.1.2. Law ..................................................................................................................... 19 2.1.3. Types of Laws ..................................................................................................... 21 2.2. Social Fields and Institutional Change ...................................................................... 22 2.2.1. Social Fields........................................................................................................ 22 2.2.2. Institutional Change .......................................................................................... 23 2.3. Forum Shopping and Power ..................................................................................... 27 2.3.1. Forum Shopping ................................................................................................ 27 2.3.2. Power ................................................................................................................. 30 3. Research Process and Rearch Design ............................................................. 32 3.1. Research Process: Reflection on the Field Site and my Role as a Researcher.......... 32 3.1.1. Selection of the Field Site—Pre-Study............................................................... 32 3.1.2. Entering the Field—Exploratory Phase ............................................................. 33 iv 3.1.3. Door-Opener to the Community ....................................................................... 33 3.1.4. My Role in the Field ........................................................................................... 34 3.1.5. My Conflicts and Reconciliation in the Field ..................................................... 36 3.2. Methods of Data Collection and Analysis ................................................................. 36 3.2.1. Participant Observation and Interviews ............................................................ 37 3.2.2. Ethnographic Census and Wealth Ranking ........................................................ 38 3.2.3. Extended Case Method ..................................................................................... 40 3.2.4. Archive Material and Other Literature .............................................................. 42 3.2.5. Photography and Other Visual Representational Practices .............................. 44 3.2.6. Analysing Negotiating Processes on Resources ................................................ 45 3.3. Constraints on the Research ..................................................................................... 46 3.3.1. Historical and Political Context.......................................................................... 46 3.3.2. Constraints Due to Local Taboos ....................................................................... 47 3.3.3. Ethical Considerations ....................................................................................... 47 4. Ethnographical Context of the Community in Endamarariek .......................... 50 4.1. Geographical Setting ................................................................................................. 50 4.1.1. Land Use in Endamarariek ................................................................................. 52 4.1.2. Socio-Economic Setting ..................................................................................... 54 4.1.3. The Modern Household ..................................................................................... 56 4.1.4. Subsistence Farming and Cattle ........................................................................ 59 4.1.5. Way of Life ......................................................................................................... 61 4.2. Religious Setting ........................................................................................................ 62 4.3. Political Setting ......................................................................................................... 66 4.3.1. Village Government ..........................................................................................