Local decision-making and handling resource extractivism in Indonesia

What is it about?

This article highlights critical gaps in empirical democracy studies and advocates for more encompassing notions of democracy. Indonesia's post-reform electoral democracy has facilitated elite-driven resource extraction, allowing a small circle of oligarchs to convert the country's rich natural resources into private wealth at the expense of rural communities. This elite capture has led to widespread dispossession and environmental degradation, particularly in regions heavily exploited for natural resources. This study uses interviews, observations, and discourse analysis to examine how the term “demokrasi” has been appropriated by elites as a tool for legitimizing resource extraction and to discuss collective decision-making in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia. The article offers empirical insights into local critiques of top-down political and economic structures and shows how communities are cultivating alternative, collective decision-making practices. We argue that this case shows the need more nuanced and inclusive democratic models that foreground economic decisions and include hitherto marginalized citizens.

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Photo by Anak Danau on Unsplash

Photo by Anak Danau on Unsplash

Why is it important?

The case is important for two reasons: going beyond narrow notions of liberal democracy helps us better understand autocratization. Consequently, broader notions of democracy can help us develop better strategies to protect democracy and marginalized people.

Perspectives