Abstract:

Taking village B in northern Maowusu Desert as an example， this paper attempts to study the problem of grassland desertification in the perspective of environmental anthropology. The author analyzes how a set of modern systems （the responsibility system for grassland and livestock； market mechanisms） implemented by the state since the 1980s， and the culture that is embedded in them （concept of privately owned land； attitudes toward natural capitals） have changed the local people’s original herding pattern， economic mode， cooperation spirit and the ideas about the nature， which aggravated the problem of grassland desertification to some extent. The author points out the logical relationships between modernity and desertification.

Key words: modernity, environmental anthropology, desertification