Abstract: A global shift towards decentralization includes the spread of territorial autonomy for minorities and demands for Indigenous sovereignty, trends evolving largely in isolation from one another. This paper identifies Indigenous autonomy as one form of territorial autonomy and one manifestation of Indigenous sovereignty. Indigenous autonomy resembles mainstream autonomous regions, with distinct origins, powers, and scale. While Indigenous government research generally focuses on the Americas, this paper focuses on self-government for Indigenous peoples in Asia. I identify four sets of potential cases: Autonomous regions not recognized as Indigenous, Indigenous regions nested within autonomous regions, special subnational units rarely seen as autonomous or Indigenous, and recognized Indigenous peoples lacking territorial government. A clearer sense of Indigenous autonomy has the potential to make for more effective governance, providing protections and voice for Asia’s tribal peoples.
Bio: Dr. Shane Barter earned is Professor of Comparative Politics at Soka University of America. He earned his PhD from UBC in 2011, and has worked for various governments and NGOs. His research focuses on separatist conflicts and self-government, in Southeast Asia and globally. His books include Civilian Strategy in Civil War: Insights from Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines (2014); Fighting Armed Conflicts in Southeast Asia: Ethnicity and Difference (2020); Moving within Borders: Addressing the Potentials & Risks of Mass Migrations in Developing Countries (2024); and Partial Sovereignty: The Politics of Autonomy among Minority Nations, forthcoming with UBC Press in 2026.