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- Convenors:
-
Sophie Elixhauser
(University of Vienna)
J. Otto Habeck (University of Hamburg)
Gertrude Saxinger (Uni Vienna)
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- Format:
- Workshop
- Regional groups:
- Circumpolar and Siberia
Short Abstract:
Arctic societies’ legacy of egalitarian relations and commoning has been impacted by colonial governance. We explore new practices of commoning in line with self-determination, cultural revitalisation, and environmental justice. We ask how ideas of egalitarianism inform current modes of activism.
Long Abstract:
Practices of commoning and egalitarian relations in the Arctic and Siberia have changed significantly over time. Both concepts emphasise shared responsibility, collective decision-making, and equality. In pre-colonial societies, commoning practices involved the shared use, management and control of resources. Egalitarian relations were manifested in minimal social hierarchies, flexible gender roles, relatively equal distribution of power, and respect for the autonomy of each person (human and non-human). However, the image of all northern societies as egalitarian has also been challenged, so the concept of egalitarianism may require a reassessment. With the arrival of colonial powers, new social, economic, and legal frameworks were imposed that often conflicted with Indigenous ways of life: the introduction of private property, centralised resource management, hierarchical governance, and rigid gender norms. Today, many groups in the Arctic and Siberia are working to revive commoning practices. These resonate with broader movements for self-determination, cultural revitalisation, and environmental justice. New such practices have also emerged, including forms of self-governance or self-reliance projects involving young people and aimed at alleviating social problems. Relevant questions are:
• To what extent do current political and social systems incorporate, or are willing to incorporate egalitarian values?
• What new forms of commoning and egalitarian relations are emerging?
• How do practices and discourses of commoning and egalitarian values differ across generations, genders, and different forms of social and economic organisation?
• How are people in the North re-imagining their respective histories? How does this influence current approaches to governance and activism?