‘Indigenous peoples' rights’ as a strategy of ethnic accommodation: contrasting experiences of Cordillerans and Papuans in the Philippines and Indonesia

Abstract

In Southeast Asia, the use of ‘indigenous peoples’ as a category for ethnic accommodation has had mixed results. Cordillerans and Papuans pursued dual strategies, sometimes casting themselves as ‘nations’, other times as ‘indigenous peoples’. While Cordillerans obtained rights as indigenous peoples, Papuans failed. Both obtained concessions during constitutional talks but only Cordillerans obtained recognition and rights as indigenous peoples. Cordillerans used linkages to the international indigenous rights movement and successfully lobbied the Constitutional Commission; electoral incentives were also key to the adoption of subsequent legislation. Conversely, Papuans were given concessions but not rights as indigenous peoples because, along with other indigenous groups, they were closed off from constitutional reform talks and lacked a strong network to put pressure on the state. This article shows that domestic coalitions in conjunction with the international indigenous rights movement might only succeed through effective framing during critical junctures of constitutional change when states are vulnerable.

Cite this

Jacques Bertrand (2011). ‘Indigenous peoples' rights’ as a strategy of ethnic accommodation: contrasting experiences of Cordillerans and Papuans in the Philippines and Indonesia. Ethnic and Racial Studies. https://doi.org/10.1080/01419870.2010.537358

@article{jacques2011indigenous,
  title  = {‘Indigenous peoples' rights’ as a strategy of ethnic accommodation: contrasting experiences of Cordillerans and Papuans in the Philippines and Indonesia},
  author = {Bertrand, Jacques},
  year   = {2011},
  journal = {Ethnic and Racial Studies},
  doi    = {10.1080/01419870.2010.537358}
}

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