Is Individualized Rangeland Lease Institutionally Incompatible with Mobile Pastoralism? -A Case Study from Post-Socialist Azerbaijan

In the context of post-socialist Central Asian and Caucasian countries I discuss whether individualized or common access regimes are appropriate for rangeland governance. Many authors oppose individualized leases and recommend restructuring rangeland access as collective regimes. In the research presented here I contribute to this debate by first, based on a literature review, identifying arguments in favor of and against individualized pasture access; second, describing a case study from Azerbaijan where individualized lease rights for pasture plots are implemented on a large scale; and finally, by critically revisiting the arguments in favor of and against individualization in light of the case study.