Abstract Panel


Authors Information
SequenceTypeName TitleFirst NameLast NameDepartmentInstitute / Affiliation
1 Author Mr. Munkherdene Gantulga Anthropology and Archaeology Senior Lecturer
Abstract Information
TrackID
:
IUAES23_ABS_W2607
Abstract Theme
:
P007 - Change and continuity of Inner Asian pastoral societies affected by external factors
Abstract Title
:
Pastoralist Influencer: Entrepreneurship, Online Shopping and Social Trust in Rural Mongolia
Short Abstract
:
Pastoralists can often be found in geographically isolated areas where they may have limited access to modern infrastructure and services. However, recent digital changes in the pastoral regions makes opportunities such as online environment, the usage of digital technologies. These online activities in pastoral societies can help improve their economic, social, and cultural well-being by facilitating communication, information sharing, and access to services.
Long Abstract
:

Traditionally, pastoralists are often seen as people who live in remote regions where access to basic services, including the Internet, may be limited. However, in Mongolian case, some areas are covered by sufficient internet networks and this accessibility has made it easier for mobile pastoralists to start and run businesses and online shopping. This article shows three different ethnographies about these initiatives in an online environment among pastoralists. Some herders create Facebook groups to make live videos and posts to sell their dairy products. Like this, others choose to join e-commerce applications and websites to market their products, which can increase their reach and provide them with access to a wider range of potential customers. Along with this entrepreneurship, online shopping and mass production circulation are boosted without the online business infrastructures like delivery or postal services, and digital payment tools. Instead, mobile pastoralists use their social trust network like drivers of local transports, someone they know, and regular bank transfer. So, the paper argues that this digital change makes Mongolian pastoralists no longer remote but more connected in many ways as well as it is different than selective inclusiveness such as travel influencers in other pastoral societies.

Abstract Keywords
:
Pastoralism, Mongolia, online-social shopping, entrepreneurship, and social trust