The Paradox of Food Sovereignty: Social, Ecological, and Cultural Impacts of the Merauke PSN on the Malind Anim Indigenous Peoples

Abstract

Abstract: This study analyzes the Merauke National Strategic Project (PSN) as a manifestation of the dynamic interplay between state-driven development paradigms oriented toward intensive resource exploitation and the cosmological worldview of the Malind Anim Indigenous peoples, which is rooted in ecological and spiritual relations with the land. Employing a descriptive-analytical qualitative approach embedded within a critical socio-cultural perspective, this research examines the socio-economic, ecological, and cultural impacts of the project. The findings indicate that the Merauke PSN is not merely a food security initiative, but a process entailing social dislocation, ecosystem degradation, and shifts in Indigenous cultural identity. The land-use conversion of customary forests and lands (ulayat) has destabilized traditional livelihood systems and transformed collective values into vulnerable transactional market relations. Concurrently, a securitized development approach marked by the active involvement of defense apparatuses and the sub-optimal implementation of Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC) underscores power asymmetries between the state and local communities. This study advocates for a paradigm shift toward self-determined development that positions Indigenous peoples as central development actors, safeguards ecological sustainability, and upholds cultural rights as an integral component of social justice and human rights.