Politik Ekonomi Liberal dan Politik Etis dalam Masyarakat Malind Merauke: Membaca Ulang Karya Etnografi J. Van Baal melalui Lantunan Tutur
Keywords:
Politics of Liberal Economy; Ethical Policy; Colonial Narrative; Oral Tradition; Malind SocietyAbstract
This article explores the intersections between colonial political policies and indigenous knowledge systems in Papua, focusing on the Malind society in Merauke. It examines the impact of Liberal Economic Policy (1870) and the Ethical Policy (1901) as colonial frameworks that shaped the representation of indigenous peoples in the Dutch East Indies. Van Baal’s writings, particularly his ethnographic descriptions of the Malind, are discussed as colonial narratives that documented mythologies, rituals, and kinship systems while simultaneously reproducing Eurocentric interpretations. Through a critical postcolonial reading, this study positions Van Baal’s works as part of a broader archive that legitimized colonial authority and economic exploitation. At the same time, the article highlights the oral traditions of the Malind narratives chant as a form of local epistemology that preserves ecological knowledge, social structures, and territorial rights. Unlike colonial archives, these oral traditions constitute living narratives that affirm Malind identity and their relationship with the natural environment. The comparison reveals a tension between colonial narratives that objectified indigenous societies and local narratives that assert autonomy and resilience. Methodologically, this research employs qualitative textual analysis, combining literature review of colonial archives with interpretative analysis of Malind oral traditions. The findings indicate that while Liberal Economic and Ethical Policies institutionalized exploitation and paternalism, Malind oral traditions provided counter-narratives of ecological balance and communal sovereignty. This study contributes to the discourse on decolonizing knowledge by showing how local narratives challenge colonial epistemologies and remain relevant for contemporary reflections on cultural identity and environmental justice.
Keywords: Politics of Liberal Economy; Ethical Policy; Colonial Narrative; Oral Tradition; Malind Society
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