Interrogating the hybrid economy approach to Indigenous development

Abstract

In the contemporary debate about remote Indigenous economic development, Jon Altman's hybrid economy approach is the major alternative to the dominant neo-liberal perspective. Altman's approach emphasises the continuing customary economic activity of remote-living Indigenous Australians and their legitimate aspirations to live and work on their ancestral lands. Based on a close reading of Altman's writings, this paper analyses the hybrid economy model -which is grounded in Altman's observations of outstation life in Arnhem Land -and the approach to economic development Altman derives from it. It makes explicit the numerous assumptions underpinning the hybrid economy approach to Indigenous development. Some of these assumptions are more controversial than others. It is argued that while Altman's approach celebrates the unique skills and contributions of culturally-connected Indigenous people, it is predicated on a pessimistic assessment of the likelihood of mainstream education and employment 'closing the gap'.

“Mobile (nomadic) cultures” and the politics of mobility: Insights from Indigenous Australia

“…In effect, they are constructed as intolerably economically unproductive. States consequently often act to incentivise mainstream market engagement among mobile cultures through restricting welfare entitlements (for an Australian example, see e.g., Curchin, ) and/or encouraging engagement with development initiatives that emphasise mainstream economic integration (e.g., Tashi & Foggin, ).…”

Remote art centres and Indigenous development

“…A growing contingent of academic researchers are exploring alternative economic models in order to better understand what small Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses such as art centres represent to their members and local economies and how their means of operation can reshape the way success is defined according to the distinctive modes of social and economic activity within remote communities (Altman, 2001;Russell, 2011;Curchin, 2013). Altman has repeatedly made reference to art centres as examples of what he calls the hybrid economy.…”

“…The hybrid economy model developed by Altman demonstrating the interaction between government, the market and customary art has received attention in academic circles; however, policymakerswho are arguably the intended audience for his workhave not applied his findings to policy frameworks and programmes, possibly because of a lack of clarity about how to do so and the model's inherent contradictions with certain fundamental presumptions upon which their current policies are based (Busilacchi, Williams, Sutton, Begg, & Russ, 2013;Curchin, 2013Curchin, , 2015Codding, Bird, & Bird, 2015). This is certainly the case in the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander arts sphere, which Altman Susan Congreve and John Burgess has used as an exemplar of his model (Altman, 2001).…”

“…The market attributes its own set of monetary values and provides a pathway through which artworks accrue value as they journey from communities to galleries, auction houses and the hands of private collectors. Curchin (2013Curchin ( , 2015 has argued that the hybrid economy offers an alternative to mainstream economy behaviours (such as set work hours) and permits a more flexible approach to how people can be supported to manage their paid work and their familial and cultural obligations. While some art centres do in this sense provide a hybrid economy approach to employment, there is growing pressure from government to be less flexible and to have set work hours for all funded employees (Curchin, 2015).…”

The vexed link between social capital and social mobility for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people

“…One trend, observed by the authors, is the primary focus of AJSI articles on the persistence of Aboriginal disadvantage. For example, in recent years, the journal has published a number of articles on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people 1 and the criminal justice system (Cunneen, Allison & Schwartz 2014;Dennision, Stewart & Freilberg 2013;Hunter & Ayyar 2011;Weatherburn & Homes 2010), Indigenous community development (Curchin 2013;Hunt;Morphy 2008;Mowbray 2006) and gambling (Nagel, Hinton, Thompson & Spencer 2011;McMillan & Donnelly 2008). Geographically, remote areas have also had a higher focus than urban locations within the published articles.…”