Johanes Eliezer Samsong Wato
Research Title
Political Ecology and the Making of Indigenous Institutions: Social Mobilization of the Amungme and Kamoro Communities in the Grasberg Mining Operation Area of PT Freeport Indonesia
Research Abstract (Short Version)
My doctoral research investigates the socio-political and ecological dynamics surrounding the Amungme and Kamoro indigenous communities in the Grasberg mining area of PT Freeport Indonesia. Using a political ecology framework, this study examines how these communities mobilize socially, form adaptive customary institutions, and negotiate their rights amid extractive industry pressures and state–corporate power. The project contributes to broader discussions on extractivism, environmental justice, and indigenous agency in shaping local governance and sustainability practices.
Position
Doctoral Student, BIGS-OAS (Bonn International Graduate School – Oriental and Asian Studies), Department of Southeast Asian Studies, University of Bonn, Germany
- PhD Student, BIGS-OAS, University of Bonn – current
- Master of Management (Human Resource Management), Cenderawasih University
- Bachelor of Social Sciences, Cenderawasih University
political ecology; indigenous institutions; extractivism; social mobilization; Papua; Amungme; Kamoro
Political ecology, indigenous institutions, extractivism, environmental justice, Southeast Asia, Papua studies