School of Social and Political Sciences - Theses
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ItemIndigenous resurgence and self-determination in Southeast Asia( 2023-05)The UNDRIP is the most comprehensive international instrument setting out the rights of Indigenous peoples, including the right to self-determination. While it did not create new rights, the UNDRIP introduced what some theorists argue is a “relational” model of self-determination, whereby Indigenous peoples exercise their right to self-determination in relationship with states. Some Southeast Asian countries have substantive legal and constitutional recognition and protections of Indigenous rights, including self-determination. There are also examples of Indigenous-state multilevel governance arrangements that empower self-determination at the local level, particularly in land and resource management. However, despite some such innovations and commitments in international and domestic law, Indigenous peoples’ rights in the region are largely ignored by governments. Indeed, the experience of ongoing colonisation connects Indigenous peoples globally. Indigenous resurgence, a growing body of decolonisation literature from North America proposes radical alternatives to the colonial relationship between Indigenous peoples and states. Central to resurgence theory is the assertion that Indigenous peoples should disengage from the state in order to protect themselves from further colonial harm and instead focus energies on their nationhood-building priorities. Then, from positions of renewed strength, engage with states in order to achieve political relationships based on mutuality and autonomy. This thesis considers how Indigenous peoples in Southeast Asia are defining and pursuing their right to self-determination, and whether these definitions and efforts reflect the tenets of Indigenous resurgence. To undertake this investigation, two original theoretical frameworks based on resurgence theory are applied to empirical findings about how self-determination is defined and pursued in the region. The findings show that self-determination in Southeast Asia can be understood in three ways: as a movement, an objective and a “toolbox” of tactics for interacting with states. Evidence of an Indigenous resurgence occurring across the region is reflective of Indigenous resurgence movements taking place in settle-colonial countries. As an objective, self-determination is a multifaceted pursuit, ranging from a pathway out of poverty to political power, and broadly consists of three domains: socio-economic wellbeing, civil rights, and cultural 'thrival'. As a “toolbox”, self-determination is being exercised via a trend of nine tactics that Indigenous peoples are strategically employing in their interactions with states. This thesis shows Indigenous resurgence is resonant in these objectives and tactics and fills a gap in the literature about Indigenous peoples’ political aspirations in Southeast Asia, advancing understanding of how self-determination as a relationship between Indigenous nations and states might be realised in the region. To this end, a novel relationship model is presented as a guide for Indigenous-state political relationships. The thesis also demonstrates the global reach of Indigenous resurgence theory, contributing to the ongoing global dialogue on the transformational impact of Indigenous peoples’ right to self-determination in international and domestic political spheres.