SAANZ Conference 2024

Chair: Tamika Ashbrook

Ben Laksana
Weaponizing Precarity: Governmental Precarisation and the Struggles of Indonesian Tertiary Student Activists

Drawing from an ethnographic study of 11 student activists in Yogyakarta, Indonesia, this research examines how the Indonesian state weaponizes precarity to control and subjugate vulnerable populations. Using Isabell Lorey’s (2015) concept of governmental precarisation, I argue that neoliberal state policies deliberately sustain precarity by intensifying financial hardships and limiting access to essential resources for university students. Despite higher education’s portrayal as a path out of poverty, many students face uncertain job prospects, low wages, and an oversaturated market. This normalization of precariousness traps students between the promise of education as a means of social mobility and the harsh realities of neoliberal governance. As a result, these precarious conditions force tertiary students engaging in activism to reassess their activists roles. I argue that this often leads to disengagement from activism as precarious living conditions erode their capacity to resist. Thus this self-perpetuating cycle of precarisation not only normalizes insecurity but further reinforces state control. This study sheds light on how neoliberal policies shape the experiences of tertiary students and their activism in Indonesia, revealing the underlying power structures that maintain these precarious conditions and limit possibilities for resistance and social change.


Joseph Elkington-Potter
Institutional Whispers: Academic Bullying in NZ

Sociology often critiques power structures and inequalities in society, but the discipline often fails to turn the lens inward, reflecting on our practices and institutions. Internationally, failures to adequately respond to and support those experiencing bullying, particularly academic bullying within universities, have raised significant concerns (Mahmoudi, 2019; Moss & Mahmoudi, 2021; Twale & DeLuca, 2008). However, in Aotearoa New Zealand, there has been limited exploration into the prevalence, lived experiences, specific conditions, and disciplinary factors that foster academic bullying within universities. This paper seeks to facilitate a discussion on what this issue might look like in the context of Aotearoa NZ, particularly for postgraduate and/or early-career Māori scholars. This research is part of a broader PhD project exploring the experiences of complaints across NZ universities, focusing on how institutional responses—or the lack thereof—perpetuate harm.


Sultan Ahmed
Towards decolonizing disaster risk communication and resilience building; Indigenous knowledge insights from High Mountain Asia

This research examines disaster risk communication (DRC) and resilience-building in HighMountain Asia (HMA) through the lens of Indigenous Knowledge (IK) of the Wakhi people, who span the borders of Afghanistan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, and China. Preliminary findings reveal a nuanced dynamic: while elders emphasize the value of IK—rooted in centuries of evolution—youth increasingly favor scientific methods as more relevant to contemporary challenges. This contrast highlights a gap in DRC, as government-led initiatives prioritize scientific knowledge and operate in an autocratic, supply-driven manner, whereas NGOs employ participatory approaches, though their reach and effectiveness remain limited.
Indigenous practices such as resilient construction, communal storage, land planning, and ritual offerings reflect a profound relationship with the environment, grounded in both practical adaptations and spiritual traditions. These practices embody a spiritual bond with nature, where rituals and offerings seek harmony with natural and supernatural forces, reinforcing both community resilience and individual confidence in facing disasters. Yet, formal systems often marginalize these practices.

This study advocates for a decolonized approach that respects both scientific and Indigenous epistemologies, recognizing the unique resilience strategies of cross-border communities. By bridging these knowledge systems, this research aims to foster inclusive, context-sensitive frameworks for DRC in HMA.