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

Thank you

E-mail: sophia.close@anu.edu.au

National Centre for Indigenous Studies