Anti-Corporate Activism and Collusion: The Contentious Politics of Palm Oil Expansion in Indonesia

The rapid expansion of oil palm plantations in Indonesia has generated a large and growing number protests against companies over, mainly, access to land. So far, these have been mainly studied through scattered case studies, which precludes an understanding analysis general patterns. Addressing this challenge, paper presents the results first-ever large-scale collaborative effort document 150 conflicts between rural Indonesians four Indonesian provinces (West Kalimantan, Central Riau West Sumatra). With material article unpacks trajectories anti-corporate activism sparked by plantations, discussing causes, character protests, conflict resolution efforts outcomes conflicts. We find that generate particular ‘rightless’ form collective action: instead invoking legal provisions or rights, communities often avoid formal institutions while adopting largely accommodative forms protest aimed at improving their bargaining position vis-à-vis companies. Despite regular intense directed local governments, we 68 percent fail address grievances. argue limited success is not just due inadequacies frameworks but also way Indonesia’s informalized state foster collusion powerholders Such facilitated repression undermined effectiveness mechanisms.