The Impacts of Decentralization Policy in The Mining Sector on Human Security of Local Communities in Indonesia

Abstract

This study aims to analyse the impacts of decentralization policy in the mining sector on human security of local communities in Indonesia. This is a documentary study that employs a comparative approach. The cases examined in the study are selected within the time periods of 2010 to 2014 to reflect how the increased provincial autonomy of local government in Indonesia since 1999 has been reflected on the mining industry and its stakeholders. All local governments in Indonesia have higher authority to manage their natural resources based on regional autonomy laws. After more than ten years of the implementation of decentralization policy, however, this study finds that it has had complex impacts on economic security in different local communities, as well as threatening the environment and social security. This article identifies that the role of local government performance and democracy that is supported by revenue sharing fund affects the realisation of the human security of local communities. The significance of this research is in theoretical and empirical contributions to expand the current understanding of the relationship between decentralization policy and human security in developing countries with particular regard to the mining industry.