Reflection on Frantz Fanon’s Postcolonial Thought in the Context of Land Hegemony in Indonesia and Church Social Praxis

Abstract

This study discusses land hegemony in Indonesia, a historical product of colonialism. It is rooted in agrarian policy, which created the term domein verklaring, where land, where proof of ownership cannot be shown, is claimed as state-owned land. This colonial logic continued to be inherited and persisted in land issues even when Indonesia became independent. This paper uses Frantz Fanon's postcolonial theory as an analytical instrument to see the relationship between land hegemony and colonial residue. It is also hoped that the use of Fanon's postcolonial theory can provide an important contribution to the church in the "new era" to reflect on faith and become a theoretical basis for church projects involved in social transformation. This paper has three findings. First, land hegemony is rooted in colonialism policies that are still inherited today in Indonesia. Second, for Fanon, decolonization is the only way to liberate the oppressed, and the prerequisite is taking back the most fundamental and concrete value, i.e land. Third, the theoretical basis of Fanon's postcolonial theory provides options for an engaged church project for the protest and process of social transformation.