Energy justice and deliberative democratisation: reflection on indigenous territory governance in Taiwan

Abstract

Research on deliberative democracy that contains a detailed discussion of its relationship to justice in Indigenous territory is limited. Through a case study of the controversy over a solar energy project on Kanaluvang tribal land in Taiwan, this article explores how issues of energy justice are constructed in multiple communication and deliberative sites of the governance system and the role of Indigenous activism and deliberation in addressing energy injustice. The research methods used are documentary analysis and in-depth interviews. The study presents a discursive narrative on the interconnected nature of the climate–energy–biodiversity nexus and how Indigenous activism creates deliberative spaces which reinforce Indigenous empowered space and oriented toward social learning and respect for tribal sovereignty. Indigenous activism and deliberation illuminate the emancipatory elements of Indigenous energy justice. It is crucial to connect multiple forms of tribal communication to the wider democratic system in the pursuit of energy justice.

Keywords:

• deliberative democracy
• deliberative systems
• energy justice
• Indigenous deliberation
• tribal sovereignty

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank the reviewers for their insightful comments on prior version of this manuscript. Special thanks to the interviewees and Chih-Ming Chiu for assisting data collection.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author.

Additional information

Funding

Research for this article benefitted from funding from National Science and Technology Council (MOST 110-2410-H-A49A-501-MY2).