Assembling resistance against large-scale land deals: challenges for conflict transformation in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea

Journal article | Zeitschriftenartikel

"Responding to the academic void on the impact of socio-ecological conflicts on peacebuilding and conflict transformation, I turn to resistance against large-scale land acquisitions in post-war contexts. Promising in terms of reconstruction and economic prosperity, the recent rush on land may, however, entail risks for reconciliation processes and long-term peace prospects. With reference to post-war Bougainville - as yet an autonomous province of Papua New Guinea - the article aims to conceptualize the impact of resistance against large-scale land deals on conflict transformation processes. Applying assemblage theory thereby allows not only analyzing multilayered dynamics in post-conflict societies but also new perspectives on socio-ecological conflicts. The findings suggest increasing resistance against land deals and state territorialization in Bougainville with resemblances to pre-war contentious politics against Panguna mine. Yet, the lasting war trauma, a high weapon prevalence, and growing social friction add to destructive deterritorialization processes that are currently slowed down by the upcoming independence referendum." (author's abstract)

Object Details

• ISSN: 1999-253X
• Extent: Seite(n): 33-52
• Language: Englisch
• Notes: Status: Veröffentlichungsversion; begutachtet (peer reviewed)

References and Relationships

• Bibliographic citation: ASEAS - Austrian Journal of South-East Asian Studies, 9(1)

Classification and Topics

• Subject: Politikwissenschaft ; Friedens- und Konfliktforschung, Sicherheitspolitik ; sozialer Konflikt ; Ozeanien ; Grundbesitz ; indigene Völker ; Boden ; Papua-Neuguinea ; Widerstand ; Bodenpolitik ; ökologische Folgen ; Vertreibung ; Konfliktpotential ; Entwicklungsland ; Konfliktregelung ; Agrarpolitik

Contributors, Places and Time

• Event: Geistige Schöpfung
• (who): Hennings, Anne
• Event: Veröffentlichung
• (where): Österreich
• (when): 2016

Further information

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.14764/10.ASEAS-2016.1-3
• Rights: GESIS - Leibniz-Institut für Sozialwissenschaften. Bibliothek Köln
• Last update: 21.06.2024, 4:26 PM CEST