Colonial Internationalism and the Governmentality of Empire, 1893–1982

In 1893, a group of colonial officials from thirteen countries abandoned their imperial rivalry and established the International Colonial Institute (ICI), which became the world's most important colonial think tank of the twentieth century. Through the lens of the ICI, Florian Wagner argues that this international cooperation reshaped colonialism as a transimperial and governmental policy. The book demonstrates that the ICI's strategy of using indigenous institutions and customary laws to encourage colonial development served to maintain colonial rule even beyond the official end of empires. By selectively choosing loyalists among the colonized to participate in the ICI, it increased their autonomy while equally delegitimizing more radical claims for independence. The book presents a detailed study of the ICI's creation, the transcolonial activities of its prominent members, its interactions with the League of Nations and fascist governments, and its role in laying the groundwork for the structural and discursive dependence of the Global South after 1945.

Orphans in post-conflict Liberia: Seeking care in fractured communities

Orphans in post-conflict settings have unique needs that have not been well-characterized. In post-conflict Liberia, maternal orphans are more likely to be without care than paternal orphans. This study examined the experiences of maternal orphans in Liberia, as they attempted to care for themselves and seek care from others, and the barriers they faced. In-depth interviews were conducted with 75 post-conflict Liberian orphans. We performed a secondary narrative analysis of interview transcripts from all maternal or double orphans (n = 17). We identified similar elements across narratives: traumatic loss, disconnection from family and community, and the desire for a savior. Female high-risk orphans were more likely to have formal substitute caregiving arrangements in which they were living with someone who was a relative or had been selected by a relative. Male orphans more commonly lacked arranged substitute care, but this allowed them to form relationships with substitute caregivers of their choosing. Sex also played a role in the provision of caregiving; substitute care was provided by women. Findings highlighted the syndemic relationship between poverty, violence, transactional sex, trauma, and substance use that traps high-risk Liberian orphans. Interventions are needed to improve access to mental health care, sober communities, housing, and education support. The need to integrate these services into indigenous institutions and address barriers related to stigma is explored.

Bolivian Indigenous Groups’ Legal Agency: What does it Entail?

The uniquely novel constitutional setting in Bolivia establishes the recognition of indigenous collective rights, indigenous jurisdictions, and indigenous institutions. However, many indigenous groups are uncomfortable with this judicial machinery, which portrays them as vulnerable groups before the legal system. This article highlights the Bolivian indigenous groups’ dissatisfaction and proposes a conceptual framework to address the apparent legal inequality from a socio-legal approach.

Conspicuous Consumption: economies of virtue and the commodification of Indigeneity

Our work examines the complexities and paradoxes of decolonization and Indigenization, including multiple understandings, conflicting aspirations, contradictory desires, institutional instrumentalizations, heterogeneity within and between Indigenous communities and enduring limitations of efforts in this area. We start this article with an overview of the work of the Gesturing Towards Decolonial Futures arts/research/ecology collective and the “Towards Braiding” mode of inquiry, which provide the context for our work. Next, we use this mode of inquiry to present three scenarios that illustrate how Indigeneity is consumed in non-Indigenous institutions. We conclude the article with a reflection about the difficult path towards non-consumptive modes of engagement with Indigenous peoples grounded on relations rooted in trust, respect, reciprocity, consent and accountabilityi and where difficult conversations can happen without relations falling apart.

Co-governance, Transregional Maritime Conventions, and Indigenous Customary Practices Among Subsistence Fishermen in Ende, Indonesia

This article presents a case study of a fishery in the port-town community of Ende, Flores, a former littoral hub located at the periphery of major commercial systems in the Indo-Pacific region. The article argues that more attention be paid to the role of transregional maritime networks, nautical conventions, and navigational practices embedded within local tenure systems to understand the apparent absence of formal control of marine and coastal resources. Through ethnographic and archival research, this study identifies the presence of indigenous institutions for fishing grounds regulation and documents the existence of broader transregional norms dictating proper fishing and navigation. Exploring the interactions between more pluralistic customary systems that exist in port-towns such as Ende and recent fishery development policies, the article discusses some of the obstacles to implementing sustainable co-management strategies. While the Indonesian central government is strongly promoting co-governance approaches for resource management, these institutional models are based on geographically narrow definitions of tradition and customary law which can lead to management failures, such as elite capture and local fishers’ disenfranchisement. In this case, policies emphasize the formation of cooperative groups without considering transregional beliefs about independence and pre-established systems of obligations. As a result, disputes among the fishermen, conflicts with local fishery officers, and the use of non-sustainable practices continue. For example, embodying predominant Southeast Asian beliefs, Endenese are known for their entrepreneurial nature and strong self-sufficiency ethos. Yet, these notions are ignored by local government agencies that view the fishermen as selfish and disorganized. In order to formulate true participatory solutions, a careful assessment of the role played by transregional perspectives that go beyond geographically localized understandings of customary practices is needed. The article concludes with a consideration of the role played by decentralization processes, subsidies, and aid programs in entrenching poverty and inequality among local communities.

The role of traditional institutions in implementing the empowerment policy of Oetulu village, Musi district, Timor Tengah Utara regency

Purpose: This study aimed to determine the role of indigenous institutions in implementing the Oetulu village Empowerment Policy of Musi district of North Central Timor regency. Research methodology: The research method in this study was a descriptive research method with a qualitative approach. This study used policy implementation theory models from Donald Van Meter and Carl E. Van Horn (1975)). Results: Six variables affect the implementation, namely: First, policy standards in the form of rules related to indigenous institutions in Oetulu village have been flawed at the formulation stage. Second, the human resources of Oetulu village indigenous institutions are not utilized by the Village Government. Third, communication between organizations and strengthening activities is still not effective. Fourth, the implementing agent has an open level of communication both vertically and horizontally, but this communication is constrained at the vertical level. Fifth, economic conditions in the jurisdiction or implementing organization are not enough to support the implementation of the policy and. Sixth, the disposition of the implementer. Limitations: This research only discusses the role of indigenous institutions in implementing the community empowerment policy of Oetulu village, Musi district of North Central Timor regency. Contribution: This research becomes scientific information for public administration science.

Trusting in indigenous institutions: exporting SMEs in Nigeria

PurposeThe purpose of this article is to develop new insights into the interplay between trust, indigenous institutions and weak/dysfunctional formal institutions using the Nigerian context – a developing country in Western Africa. It advances new understanding on how Nigerian entrepreneurs trust in their indigenous institutions such as family ties, kinship, chieftaincy, religion, cooperatives and trade associations to resolve disputes arising from their exporting activities as opposed to dormant formal institutions in their country.Design/methodology/approachThis exploratory study adopts an interpretive research paradigm, and it utilises a case study strategy. Data collected through observations, archival records and qualitative conversations with 36 exporting Nigerian small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) is analysed by utilising a combination of within and cross-case analysis techniques. Doing so enabled an in-depth study of the methods their owner-managers use in order to take advantage of the relationships they established through their long-standing cultural institutions in the place of weak formal institutions in their country.FindingsIndigenous institutions have evolved to replace formalised institutions within the business environment in Nigeria. They have developed to become an alternative and trusted arbiter for solving SMEs' export issues because of weak/dysfunctional formal institutions in the Western African country. The owner-managers of exporting SMEs perceive formal institutions as representing a fragmented system that does not benefit their export businesses.Practical implicationsThe findings demonstrate that there is need for policymakers to consider the role of informal institutions in the Nigerian context. Such an approach is essential given the economic importance and increasing number of SMEs that trade and export their goods through informal structures in Nigeria.Originality/valueThe study indicates that it is not just the void or absence of institutions that exist in a developing country such as Nigeria, but weak/dysfunctional formal institutions have been replaced by culturally embedded informal institutions. Thus, the study provides a new theoretical avenue depicting the concept of trusting in indigenous institutions.

Yuridis Putusan Mahkamah Konstitusi Nomor 35/PUU-X/2012 Tentang Keberadaan Hutan Adat Masyarakat

In principle, forest and forestry management is a management process for all components of the ecosystem, including humans. Utilization of forests to facilitate economic growth has eliminated the interests of customary forest communities, the rights of indigenous peoples have been protected as human rights, as stated in Law Number 39 of 1999 concerning the basic provisions of human rights. The people of Buru District, Grandeng Village, have an area of forest area for other uses of around 600 hectares which can be used for the benefit of local communities, but there are often problems between the Transmigration Community and Indigenous People who have unresolved ownership of land areas based on customary law, as well as the involvement of the local government Buru Regency in providing solutions to problem-solving, the method used is descriptive qualitative with interview instruments and a review of legal documents related to the research theme. The results that can be conveyed are the utilization of Customary forest products and their management by the community in Lolongguba sub-district, often in coordination with Hinolong Baman or the Head of Soa, which means that legally the implementation of the Constitutional Court Decision, No.35 / PUU-X / 2012 concerning the Existence of Community Customary Forests has been implemented in the community, however, the institutionality of the Waeapo Plains Indigenous Peoples has not been maximized, both in the implementation of customary law norms, as a result of factors, human resources, economy, social and Indigenous institutions themselves. Based on legal research, it is necessary to formulate a legal umbrella both government regulations and regional regulations regarding ownership of forests and forest products.