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Indigenous Politics in Comparative Perspective

Citizenship
Human Rights
Media
Political Methodology
Representation
Social Movements
Comparative Perspective
Mobilisation
S27
Ulf Mörkenstam
Stockholm University
Per Selle
Universitetet i Bergen


Abstract

Indigenous politics is quickly becoming an important research topic in political science around the world. Legal and political developments in the international arena, notably the adoption of the United Nation’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, as well as ongoing Indigenous mobilizations have forced mainstream political scientists to pay attention. Though there are great distances in both culture and geography between the peoples called ‘indigenous’, the situations and historical experiences of these groups are reasonably similar in many aspects. The main issues at stake, from political autonomy to the legacy and ongoing consequences of colonialism and natural resource guardianship, are also very similar across continents. The first objective of the Section is to provide a more systematic comparative outlook on Indigenous politics across continents. What can we, for example, learn from developments in the world regarding Indigenous mobilizations or ways of institutionalising Indigenous self-determination on a nation-state level? Our second objective is to foster a dialogue between political scientists on key research agendas, theoretical approaches and perspectives in the emerging field of Indigenous politics. Is there a coherent set of issues, concepts and theoretical debates that unite the field? Is there a possible dialogue between approaches generally associated with Indigenous studies and political science? How do we approach the challenge of decolonizing research on/with/for Indigenous peoples within political science? Rationale This Section will build on the themes and debates emerging from a Joint Sessions workshop (St. Gallen 2011) and a General Conference section (Montréal 2015). We find it important to continue to construct this emerging network within political science in order to foster a dialogue among European specialists of Indigenous politics and with colleagues elsewhere. Proposed Panels The Section will be organized along six thematic Panels. We welcome proposals that address these themes from a comparative perspective or through case study, as well as any other aspects of Indigenous politics relevant to our objectives: 1. The constitutional recognition of Indigenous peoples: One of the most important struggles for Indigenous peoples today evolves around their constitutional and legal status within nation-states. Recognition could grant Indigenous peoples a platform within international law from which they can articulate their right-claims. Are Indigenous groups recognized as peoples with a right to self-determination within national constitutions, and – if so – with what rights? Can we discern patterns of recognition on a nation-state level? Chair: Ulf Mörkenstam (Stockholm University) 2. The politics of consultation and participation in the development of natural resources: Despite recent advances in international norms on indigenous rights, it remains largely unclear what Indigenous self-determination and associated rights of communities and traditional land users actually imply. What new strategies of engagement are Indigenous peoples employing to address inequalities in how decisions are made regarding land development projects? What state-led mechanisms have emerged to address Indigenous demands for greater say in resources management? And what is the role of private sector actors in this emerging regime of Indigenous participation in the political economy of natural resources? Chair: Rasmus Kløcker Larsen (Stockholm Environmental Institute) 3. Indigenous citizenship: Indigenous citizenship and membership affect both the balance of power within Indigenous communities as well as the relationship between Indigenous citizens/members and nation-state governments. Most Indigenous peoples – just like states – use some kind of descent rules in their distribution of citizen- or membership, but while most states also supplement these rules with other rules to acquire citizenship, many Indigenous peoples do not. How do Indigenous peoples distribute citizenship/membership? Are strict jus sanguinis rules normatively suspect as forms of racial discrimination, or an inevitable part of Indigenous peoples’ struggle for survival? Chair: Mikkel Berg-Nordlie (Norwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research, Oslo and Akershus University College) 4. Indigenous media: It is critical for Indigenous peoples to gain access and opportunity to be represented in, produce and participate in the production of messages that tell stories from an inside perspective for the ability to express and form identities, cultural citizenship and exert influence over decisions that concern them. Media is here often decisive. Recently, access to communication have been eased by the increasing number of digital media, allowing for alternative ways of gaining and distributing information, or mobilizing for action. This Panel calls for Papers that document and study indigenous media institutions and practices, indigenous journalism, as well as the representation and production of journalism and other communications within indigenous media. Chair: Eli Skogerbø (University of Oslo) 5. Theories and methods in the study of Indigenous politics: What are the key theoretical challenges in the field and how can we facilitate conceptual bridge building across mainstream and critical, or postcolonial, perspectives? Are we making headways in decolonizing our methods? This Panel seeks to address theoretical and methodological developments at the intersection of indigenous studies and political science. Chair: Anna-Lill Drugge (Centre for Sámi Studies, Umeå University) 6. The politics of Indigenous representation and participation: What can we learn from a comparison of different models of indigenous representation, in indigenous representative bodies as well as mainstream democratic institutions? What are the patterns, conditions and challenges to Indigenous participation in political parties and electoral politics, with regard to Indigenous, national and local elected assemblies? Chair: Jo Saglie (Institute for Social Research, Oslo) Biographical note Ulf Mörkenstam is Associate Professor at Stockholm University, Sweden. His research interests focus mainly on policy analysis, normative political theory and indigenous rights, especially the right to self-determination. He has recently (2016) been co-editor for the volume Sametingsval: väljare, partier och media [Elections to the Sámi Parliament: Voters, Parties and Media], based on the first election study ever on the Sámi Parliament in Sweden. Per Selle is professor in Political Science at University of Bergen, Norway. His main fields of research are local democracy, civil society and indigenous politics. He has written extensively on indigenous politics with a special focus on the Sámi people in Norway. Among these publications are two recently (2015) co-edited volumes, Samepolitikkens utveckling [The Development of Sámi Politics] and Den samiske medborgaren [The Sámi Citizen].
Code Title Details
P166 Indigenous Media View Panel Details
P167 Indigenous Peoples' Right to Land View Panel Details
P346 Self-determination and Indigenous Self-constitution View Panel Details