Politics of Recognition as an Alternative Solution to Agrarian Conflicts in Archipelagic Regions

Ahmad Robi Ul'zikri, Ulfa Umayasari, Yunus Praja Panjika, Elia Damayanti, Syifa Nur Annisa

Abstract


Indonesia, as an archipelagic nation, continues to encounter significant challenges in distributing resources fairly, particularly in remote island areas. This research explores the struggle of the Sebesi Island community in South Lampung to obtain recognition of land ownership rights and their resistance to mining permits around Sebesi and Krakatau waters. The study applies a qualitative ethnographic method, collecting data through in-depth interviews with 14 key informants, supported by direct observation and field documentation. Axel Honneth’s political theory of recognition provides the analytical framework, focusing on intersubjective relations between the state and local society. The results demonstrate a paradox: civil recognition, especially in land ownership, remains denied, while political recognition in electoral processes is selectively extended. Two main forms of resistance were identified. The first involves collective demonstrations and protests, which have yet to yield concrete policy outcomes. The second manifests through electoral participation, where agrarian and mining issues are transformed into populist political commodities during campaigns. The study concludes that the Sebesi Island case exemplifies the persistent shortcomings of state recognition in agrarian matters, while also illustrating how Honneth’s recognition theory offers valuable insights into alternative approaches for addressing agrarian conflicts in archipelagic contexts.

Keywords


Ethnography politic, the politics of recognition; island communities; agrarian conflict, mining conflict

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References


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DOI: https://doi.org/10.35308/jpp.v12i4.11795

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