01834nam a2200157Ia 4500008004100000100002400041245010700065260000900172300001500181504000800196520136400204650002501568650002401593650003001617773002901647181130s2018    xx            000 0 und d  aBrigg, Morgan et al  aGununa peacemaking: binformalism, cultural difference and contemporary indigenous conflict management  c2018  ap.345-366.  dJun  aInformal conflict management implicitly claims to value cultural difference and to be able to mediate relations between cultural minorities and states. This article considers this claim in challenging circumstances borne of settler-colonialism by examining the cultural politics of the establishment of a conflict resolution programme in an Australian Aboriginal community. In addition to settler-colonial maligning of Aboriginal capacities to manage conflict, the Gununa community has in recent decades faced the severe attenuation of customary processes and escalating uncontrolled violence. Nonetheless, the Mornington Island Restorative Justice Project involved a spontaneous appropriation of mediation as a customary initiative and an accompanying implicit negotiation between the customary sociolegal order of Mornington Islanders and that of the liberal settler-state. Analysis of these circumstances and relations leads us to argue that informalism can support cultural difference and mediate relations with the state, although it cannot be relied upon to transform the accompanying asymmetric relationship. Nonetheless, informalism may sustain and contribute to the possibilities for transformative change by improving delivery of justice services and through recognition of Indigenous capacities and approaches to sociopolitical order. - Reproduced.  aAboriginal Australia  aConflict management  aCustomary law - Australia  aSocial and Legal Studies