Arifin, Bustanul (1995) Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainable Commons: The Case of an Indonesian Subak

Conference: Presented at "Reinventing the Commons," the fifth annual conference of the International Association for the Study of Common Property, May 24-28, 1995, Bodoe, Norway.

Abstract: "This paper analyzes how a subak water-user organization deals with religious and democratic principles of water management, how these principles are translated into an interdependence perspective that would result in fair rights and duties of the organization members, and why outsider intervention may threaten the sustainability of the whole water management system and common property resources in general. The heart of this water management system is a strong belief in the Hindu religious doctrine that water is not only a common property resource but a God-owned property, a part of nature which human beings are encouraged to utilize properly. Key elements of the subak success story includes fair and clearly-stated rules and agreements, equitable rights and duties among organization members, strong enforcement of any violations and ethical, social, and religious responsibilities attached to the feeling of interdependence among members. It has been able to overcome defiances by government officials and the vested interests of local and regional elites mostly due to the homogeneity in ethnic and social status of its group members."