Developing Governance and Governing Development: International Case Studies of Indigenous Futures

Globally, far too many discussions about Indigenous governance and development are dominated by accounts of disadvantage, deficit and failure. This book paints a different international picture, testifying to Indigenous peoples as agents of governance innovation and successful developers in their own right, telling stories in their words, from their own experiences and countries. From Indigenous voices, we hear alternative concepts and measures of effectiveness, legitimacy, success and sustainability.

Indigenous stories and voices are captured as case study chapters, written in lively, clear language about what is happening that is promising and productive in Indigenous self-determined governance for self-determined development in Canada, Australia, Aotearoa/New Zealand and the USA; all English colonial–settler countries.

Stephen Cornell is Professor of sociology, faculty chair of the Native Nations Institute
at the University of Arizona, USA. A political and cultural sociologist, Cornell and
economist Joseph P. Kalt founded the Harvard Project on American Indian Economic
Development. In 2000-2001, Cornell led the development of the Native Nations
Institute at Arizona, an outgrowth of the Harvard Project. Cornell has written widely
on Indigenous affairs, economic development, collective identity, and ethnic and
race relations.