Paper short abstract:

When norms for resource exchange are violated and, the essences of social relations are challenged, disputes often emerge among people. These disputes have to be handled through one or more of the various strategies. This paper discusses one such strategy called hammeenna among the Arsii Oromo of Ethiopia.

Paper long abstract:

When norms for resource exchange are violated and, the essences of social relations are challenged, disputes often emerge among people. These disputes have to be handled through one or more of the various strategies. This paper discusses one such strategy called hammeenna among the Arsii Oromo of Ethiopia. Hammeenna approaches the concept of avoidance in dispute handling as it involves disputants engage in mutual avoidance by severing channels of communication and resource sharing. Data generated through case studies and in-depth interviews conducted in the Arsii Oromo villages revealed that: (1) People routinely employ avoidance as a temporary strategy for handling disputes. (2) Almost all disputes that resulted in avoidance occurred among people with prior intimate relations, and involved breach of promises or expectations related to informal resources exchange or mutual obligations. (3) Resource related avoidance is often initiated by a right claimant while those related to failure to meet social obligations could be initiated by either party. (4) Avoidance serves as moral and social pressure imposed on (or felt by) a wrongdoer. (5) Avoidance may have two simultaneous consequences: in the short term, avoidance curtails avenues of cooperation and solidarity. This is important particularly in a setting where social solidarity and informal exchange of resources is so essential for people's livelihood. On the other hand, avoidance manages a dispute from developing into a violent conflict thereby contributing towards conflict resolution and people's long-term co-existence. It help maintain 'cracks' caused by a dispute narrow enough to be mended and, 'wounds' shallow enough to be healed relatively easily.