Settlement and circulation in a frontier region: IIlubabor Province, south-west Ethiopia

The expansion of settlement and the development of economic activity in a frontier region will stimulate a great variety of human mobility. Some people may move into a frontier zone with the intention of permanent settlement, fully committing themselves to their new area of residence. In these cases the movers are termed ‘settlers’. Others may visit a frontier zone for only a few weeks; where this is so and the intention to return home is dominant, they may be called ‘circulators’. Between these two a great variation exists in the intended length of residence in the frontier zone and the degree of commitment by the mover to the frontier zone and his home area. There may be further complexity because movers may alter their residence intentions from experience in the frontier zone and consequent adjustment of their material goals.