Heterogeneous Territories and Epistemological Splits in Cambodia's Resource Frontiers

Abstract

The concept of territory is pivotal in analysing land dispossession and agrarian transformation, yet its conventional treatment through state-centric frameworks obscures the multifaceted and often contradictory epistemologies underpinning territorial projects. This study advances a critical agrarian perspective by interrogating the inherent splits in the notion of territory—a split that emerges from the interplay of diverse, and at times conflicting, frameworks imposed by state policies, indigenous practices, and international interventions. Focusing on Cambodia's resource frontiers, particularly in the highland regions, the research examines how heterogeneous territorial formations are not merely spatial outcomes but also reflections of deeper epistemological divisions.

Central to this inquiry is the recognition of three distinct territorial logics. First, the Cambodian government's indigenous land titling project, implemented from a bureaucratic and state-centric perspective, endeavours to formalize land tenure through legal and administrative mechanisms. This initiative, though aimed at addressing tenure insecurity in the highland region, often reduces complex, locally embedded relations to uniform legalistic categories, thereby marginalizing alternative spatial understandings. Second, there exists the highlanders' traditional conception of territory, which is rooted in centuries-old, practice-based relationships with the land. For these communities, territory is not merely an administratively defined space but a living, relational entity imbued with cultural, spiritual, and historical significance. This perspective emphasizes continuity, community, and an intimate connection to place, resisting the abstract categorizations imposed by state policies. Third, the study considers the globalized notion of indigenous territory promoted by Western donors. This external framework, characterized by universalizing discourses on indigenous rights and conservation, introduces another layer of complexity by reconfiguring local struggles within a broader global context. The infusion of international standards and narratives often conflicts with both state-driven projects and indigenous worldviews, generating further tensions and contributing to an overall fragmentation in territorial identity.

Employing a spatially explicit ethnographic approach in two highland villages, this paper demonstrates how these three epistemologically distinct territorial models converge and conflict in practice. The study traces historical processes—from the forced migration of highland communities during the Khmer Rouge era to successive state interventions such as land privatization, economic land concessions, and the recent indigenous titling programs—all of which have reconfigured the spatial and symbolic dimensions of land. The analysis reveals that these overlapping territorial projects not only result in fragmented land ownership or contested boundaries, but also precipitate distinct territorial splits that arise from a more fundamental epistemological division.

This paper contends that a decolonial and participatory framework is essential for addressing the fissures generated by these competing territorial logics. By reconceptualizing territory as a heterogeneous, contested, and epistemologically fragmented phenomenon, the study not only deepens theoretical debates within critical agrarian studies and offers practical insights into the adaptive strategies of local communities navigating neoliberal land politics and globalized interventions, but it also contributes to a more comprehensive understanding of the dynamics of contemporary agrarian change.

Bio

Eunbi is a scholar with a diverse international background in development studies, Southeast Asian studies, and geography. She is currently a PhD candidate in the Department of Geography at the University of Melbourne, following her academic training at the National University of Singapore. Her doctoral research examines the uneven geographies of land dispossession in northeastern Cambodia through long-term, immersive fieldwork. By exploring the interplay between state-led projects, neoliberal land policies, and indigenous territorial practices, her work aims to contribute to a more nuanced understanding of contemporary agrarian change.

Before beginning her doctoral studies, Eunbi gained hands-on experience in international development while working at Korea's Economic Development Cooperative Fund. She further developed her expertise during her Master's degree in Southeast Asian Studies, where she researched ethnic categorizations and tourism development in Cambodia. This research led to a collaborative project with the Department of Development Studies at the Royal University of Phnom Penh through a KOICA (Korea International Cooperation Agency) initiative, deepening her insight into the development challenges facing northeastern Cambodia.

In addition to her academic work, Eunbi has practical field experience as a consultant with a local NGO, ICSO (Indigenous Community Support Organization) in Cambodia. During her PhD fieldwork, she provided guidance to local NGOs and indigenous associations, assisting with the development of community projects. Through her combined experiences in research, policy work, and grassroots engagement, Eunbi continues to work toward a balanced understanding of the complex issues shaping land politics and agrarian change in Southeast Asia.