sophia close - how can development transform conflict in indigenous communities?
TRANSCRIPT
Can development transform conflict in Indigenous communities?
Development Futures Conference, Sydney20 - 21 November 2013
Sophia Close, PhD Candidate
ANU National Centre for Indigenous Studies
National Centre for Indigenous Studies
Key research question
Can Indigenous communities better engage with development systems to transform conflict and create self-determining development?
National Centre for Indigenous StudiesSource: Close 2010
Development-related Conflict
Indigenous peoples experience peace and conflict in multiple ways; my research focuses on conflict that is exacerbated or triggered by development.
National Centre for Indigenous StudiesSource: Close 2010
Initial Field Results: Timor-Leste
• Timing and sustainability
• Culture and language• Leadership and elites • Duplication and gaps• Poor donor
coordination• Many layers of
existing conflict
National Centre for Indigenous StudiesSource: Close 2010
Relationships
“Relationship is
paramount.”
International Development Practitioner 2009: Interview
National Centre for Indigenous StudiesSource: Close 2010
Consent / Choice
Free prior and informed consent is a decision-making process that does not involve coercion, is made before interventions begin and includes understanding the full range of potential impacts.
National Centre for Indigenous StudiesSource: Close 2013
“Capacity Building”
“We are driven by models which do not apply here. When people do it themselves they do it better”.
Timorese Development Practitioner 2010: Interview
National Centre for Indigenous StudiesSource: Close 2010
Self-determined Development
“Self-determination is also about the right to development…the right to make decisions that determine the path development should take”. (Nuttall 2008)
National Centre for Indigenous StudiesSource: Close 2010
