Peluncuran Buku:Peluncuran Buku:Negara vs. SantetNegara vs. Santet

oleh Nicholas Herrimanoleh Nicholas Herriman

Peluncur KeduaPeluncur KeduaGreg AcciaioliGreg AcciaioliAnthropology & SociologyAnthropology & SociologyThe University of Western The University of Western AustraliaAustraliaEmail: Email: gregory.acciaioli@uwa.edu.augregory.acciaioli@uwa.edu.au

Peluncuran vs. Bedah Buku?Peluncuran vs. Bedah Buku?

Bedah buku di UII: Paraphrase Marc Bedah buku di UII: Paraphrase Marc Antony in Shakespeare’s Antony in Shakespeare’s Julius Julius CaesarCaesar‘‘We come here not to praise Dr. We come here not to praise Dr.

Thontowi, but to bury him’Thontowi, but to bury him’ My aim is largely to praise, but also My aim is largely to praise, but also

to questionto questionContext of the ‘anthropologising’ Context of the ‘anthropologising’

((antropologisasiantropologisasi) of Nick Herriman) of Nick Herriman

First EncountersFirst Encounters

2003 Query on an incomprehensible 2003 Query on an incomprehensible situationsituation How could these people in Banyuwangi be How could these people in Banyuwangi be

accusing their close relatives and near accusing their close relatives and near neighbours of sorcery and then killing neighbours of sorcery and then killing them?them?

Answer: ‘Those closest to you are Answer: ‘Those closest to you are often the ones from whom you have often the ones from whom you have the most to fear’the most to fear’ Witchcraft among the Tiv of Nigeria: Laura Witchcraft among the Tiv of Nigeria: Laura

Bohannon (aka Elenore Smith Bowen)Bohannon (aka Elenore Smith Bowen)

A Conversion Experience?A Conversion Experience?

Anthropology as the key to Anthropology as the key to understanding this apparently understanding this apparently incomprehensible situation!incomprehensible situation!But the field research already done!But the field research already done!

Can one help fashion an anthropologist Can one help fashion an anthropologist out of this philosopher/political out of this philosopher/political scientist/historian/Asian Studies figure?scientist/historian/Asian Studies figure?

2004 addition to his supervisory 2004 addition to his supervisory committee chaired by David Bourchiercommittee chaired by David Bourchier

The AnthropologisationThe Anthropologisation

Crash course in legal anthropology and Crash course in legal anthropology and ethnographic analysisethnographic analysisOne-on-one tutorials after readings in One-on-one tutorials after readings in

classics of legal anthropology and more classics of legal anthropology and more general ethnographygeneral ethnography

Nick’s synthesisNick’s synthesis: ‘A Din of Whispers: Community, State Control and Violence in Indonesia’ (submitted 2007)Australian Anthropological Society PhD thesis

prize (2008)

Examiners: Robert Hefner Examiners: Robert Hefner (Anthropologist)(Anthropologist)

The interviews which provide the primary source of data for the author’s argument are compelling, the data collected are fascinating and rich, and the specific argument as to who carried out the violence (local villagers, the author shows, not armed-forces conspirators) and why (villagers in Banyuwangi district take sorcery quite seriously, and sanction the killing of sorcerers) struck this reader as convincing. As a contribution to the study of a particularly notorious incident of violence in the early post-Soeharto period, then, this is a significant, welcome, and highly original work.

 

Other examiners from outside Other examiners from outside AnthropologyAnthropologyGreg Barton (Political Scientist):

This is a truly outstanding PhD thesis. It is generally very well written but more importantly it makes a very significant, original contribution to our body of knowledge at two levels.

 Robert Cribb (Historian):The thesis is a fine example of effective fieldwork

deployed to generate conclusions that are of considerable broader significance. The candidate is also to be congratulated for his intellectual and practical courage in investigating a topic (sorcery) which puts him outside the mainstream of anthropological research…

Anthropological and multi-Anthropological and multi-disciplinarydisciplinaryContribution to the anthropology of violenceContribution to the anthropology of violence

But also a re-examination of the political nature of the state But also a re-examination of the political nature of the state in Indonesiain IndonesiaNegotiated authority, not authoritarianNegotiated authority, not authoritarianComplementary view: populace complicit, not ‘innocent’Complementary view: populace complicit, not ‘innocent’

Historical rethinking of the New OrderHistorical rethinking of the New OrderExculpation?Exculpation?

Main focus on village officials (not community, not Main focus on village officials (not community, not sorcerers, not the state) as protagonistssorcerers, not the state) as protagonistsCaught betwixt and between (i.e. ENTANGLEMENT)Caught betwixt and between (i.e. ENTANGLEMENT)

Balancing imperatives of state for law and order with solidarity with Balancing imperatives of state for law and order with solidarity with fellow villagersfellow villagers

What makes the account What makes the account anthropological?anthropological?

Focus on the published English Focus on the published English language monograph, language monograph, The Entangled The Entangled

StateStateMost data derived from participant observation Most data derived from participant observation field researchfield researchSupplemented by discourse analysis of newspaper Supplemented by discourse analysis of newspaper

articles, etc.articles, etc. Inclusion of modes of ethnographic writingInclusion of modes of ethnographic writing

Description of daily cycle of life (pp.6-8)Description of daily cycle of life (pp.6-8)Ethnographic writing convention established by Margaret Ethnographic writing convention established by Margaret

Mead, Mead, Coming of Age in Samoa Coming of Age in Samoa (1920s)(1920s)Encompassment of multiple sensory modes, especially Encompassment of multiple sensory modes, especially

soundsound ‘‘Yelling, blaring, buzzing...quieter side’ // Title’s ‘Din of Whispers’Yelling, blaring, buzzing...quieter side’ // Title’s ‘Din of Whispers’

What makes the account What makes the account anthropological?anthropological?

Focus on continuityFocus on continuityAnthropological task to trace the dialectic of Anthropological task to trace the dialectic of

continuity and transformation in social lifecontinuity and transformation in social lifeBut often focus on continuity of cultural framesBut often focus on continuity of cultural frames

Herriman’s account focus on continuity of Herriman’s account focus on continuity of killings of sorcererskillings of sorcerersContinuous, but usually only sporadicContinuous, but usually only sporadicWhen ‘opportunity’ (When ‘opportunity’ (kesempatankesempatan) then it can ) then it can

be an ‘outbreak’be an ‘outbreak’Times of social upheaval: revolution, 1965-66 Times of social upheaval: revolution, 1965-66

killings, onset of Reformasi (killings, onset of Reformasi (demodemo as a permitted as a permitted mode of action)mode of action)

What makes the account What makes the account anthropological?anthropological?

Complementary focus on local agencyComplementary focus on local agency`Autonomy of the village’ as corrective to `Autonomy of the village’ as corrective to

the ‘institutional fallacy’the ‘institutional fallacy’State institutions do not always operate as State institutions do not always operate as

planned nor as scholars think they are planned nor as scholars think they are intended to functionintended to function

Social control: determine village officials’ Social control: determine village officials’ participation in sorcerer killingsparticipation in sorcerer killings

Social resistance: object to village officials’ Social resistance: object to village officials’ protection of sorcerersprotection of sorcerers

Override such protection to follow through with Override such protection to follow through with killingskillings

Protest the incarceration of accused killersProtest the incarceration of accused killers

Where could the monograph Where could the monograph have been more have been more anthropological?anthropological?

Little exploration of the logic and Little exploration of the logic and functions of sorceryfunctions of sorcery

Sorcerers presented simply as villagers like Sorcerers presented simply as villagers like anybody else who happen to be accusedanybody else who happen to be accused

‘‘Innocents’ : But are they also ‘complicit’?Innocents’ : But are they also ‘complicit’?

What are the structural tensions in the society What are the structural tensions in the society that make sorcery appear to be more that make sorcery appear to be more prevalent than in other contexts in Indonesia?prevalent than in other contexts in Indonesia?

What is the local theory of agency?What is the local theory of agency?How is sorcery conceptualized as an exercise of How is sorcery conceptualized as an exercise of

agency that fits with other everyday exercises of agency that fits with other everyday exercises of agency?agency?

Moving away from an implicit Moving away from an implicit HobbesianismHobbesianism

‘‘A boisterous, unruly, undisciplined and A boisterous, unruly, undisciplined and violent society’ (p. 146)violent society’ (p. 146)How move from a Hobbesian view of this as a How move from a Hobbesian view of this as a

natural state of society?natural state of society?Need for a cultural account of the underlying Need for a cultural account of the underlying

cultural notions of personhood in Banyuwangicultural notions of personhood in BanyuwangiCultural bases of etiquette and social intercourseCultural bases of etiquette and social intercourseWhat make such scenarios of violent interaction What make such scenarios of violent interaction

salient and expectable in this societysalient and expectable in this society

A final query: TransitionsA final query: Transitions

‘‘A Din of Whispers: Community, State A Din of Whispers: Community, State Control and Violence in Indonesia’ (2007, Control and Violence in Indonesia’ (2007,

PhD thesis)PhD thesis)

VV

The Entangled State: Sorcery, State Control The Entangled State: Sorcery, State Control and Violence in Indonesia and Violence in Indonesia (2012, Yale (2012, Yale

Southeast Asia Studies)Southeast Asia Studies)

VV

Negara vs. Santet: Ketika Rakyat Berkuasa Negara vs. Santet: Ketika Rakyat Berkuasa (2014, Yayasan Obor)(2014, Yayasan Obor)

Connotations of the evolution of Connotations of the evolution of titlestitles

Moving away fromMoving away fromGeneral account of violence in IndonesiaGeneral account of violence in Indonesia

To more pointed focus on sorceryTo more pointed focus on sorceryTrichotomy of the original work?Trichotomy of the original work?

Community: Whisperers/killers opposed to sorcerersCommunity: Whisperers/killers opposed to sorcerersState: Limited in power rather than authoritarianState: Limited in power rather than authoritarian

Non-acknowledgment of sorcerersNon-acknowledgment of sorcerersVillage officials: Protagonists caught in-betweenVillage officials: Protagonists caught in-between

As representatives of the state, they are NOT the main figures As representatives of the state, they are NOT the main figures opposed to sorcerersopposed to sorcerers

Why the Indonesian title Why the Indonesian title choice?choice? Indonesian title: connotations of state in Indonesian title: connotations of state in

opposition to sorcerers as a dichotomyopposition to sorcerers as a dichotomyRather than community in opposition to sorcerers with Rather than community in opposition to sorcerers with

state as constrainer and village officials in-between:state as constrainer and village officials in-between:Why not Why not Rakyat vs. Santet dibatasi Negara: Peranan Aparat Rakyat vs. Santet dibatasi Negara: Peranan Aparat

Desa di AntaranyaDesa di Antaranya??

A more anthropologically oriented title (A more anthropologically oriented title (Bunyi Bunyi Besar Rakyat Berbisik: Komunitas, Kuasa Negara Besar Rakyat Berbisik: Komunitas, Kuasa Negara dan Kekerasan di Indonesiadan Kekerasan di Indonesia) unlikely to ) unlikely to appeal/sell?appeal/sell?Role of the state (Role of the state (NegaraNegara) as a more vexed and hence ) as a more vexed and hence

attractive focus?attractive focus?

What are the constraints What are the constraints and opportunities and opportunities ((kesempatankesempatan) that condition ) that condition that transformation of our that transformation of our writings (or at least our writings (or at least our titles) for new audiences?titles) for new audiences?