A University of Sussex DPhil thesis Available online via Sussex Research Online: http://sro.sussex.ac.uk/ This thesis is protected by copyright which belongs to the author. This thesis cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the Author The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the Author When referring to this work, full bibliographic details including the author, title, awarding institution and date of the thesis must be given Please visit Sussex Research Online for more information and further details Risk, modernity and the H5N1 virus in action in Indonesia A multi‐sited study of the threats of avian and human pandemic influenza William Paul Forster A dissertation submitted in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy of the University of Sussex Institute of Development Studies University of Sussex January 2012 i ABSTRACT This thesis examines the Influenza A/H5N1 virus in action through an ethnographic study focused on the entwined concepts of risk and modernity. The objective is to explain why the response to the virus has been challenged in Indonesia. Concerned with policy formulation, and everyday practice, the thesis argues that assemblages of historical, political, institutional and knowledge‐power processes create multiple hybrid constructions of risk and modernity, which challenge technical responses based on epistemological positions and institutional arrangements that do not allow for such hybridity. The thesis is organised into four sections. The first section (chapters 1 – 3) introduces the virus and its terrain, outlines a constructivist position, and argues that conceptually risk and modernity have multiple, dynamic, power‐laden forms. The second section (chapters 4 – 6) contrasts constructions of risk and modernity among the actors and networks responding to the emergence, spread and persistence of the H5N1 virus, with the constructions of affected people in Indonesia. The third section (chapters 7 – 9) investigates the multi‐directional processes that occur when ‘global’ policies and practices encounter ‘local’ social and political settings, and vice versa, through three empirical case studies of the response to H5N1 in Indonesia between 2005 and 2010. The final section (chapter 10) provides a set of reflections and conclusions. Given the conceptual plurality of risk and modernity, and the multiple overlapping interacting hybrid constructions that have been empirically demonstrated in the case of H5N1, it is concluded that reductive, science‐based, governmentally‐orientated responses which treat nature as a matter of separate, fixed identity do not allow for such hybridity. The virus in action in Indonesia shows that any divide between nature and society is artificial and deceiving. Technical disease control responses need to incorporate understandings which accept the dynamics of culture, politics, and power. ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Particular thanks are due to my supervisors, Ian Scoones and Melissa Leach, at the Institute of Development Studies STEPS Centre, and the UK’s Economic and Social Research Council, which funded my studentship and fieldwork in Indonesia. Beyond that, a large number of people have encouraged and supported me in various ways. Specifically I would like thank: Emil Agustiono, Robyn Alders, Bustanul Arifin, Yana Arifin, Teresa Armijos, Abdul Azid, Warief Djajanto Basorie, Jonathan Bell, Gerry Bloom, Sally Brooks, Glenn Bruce, Eric Brum, Oliver Burch, Sigfrido Burgos, Olivier Charnoz, Ivo Classen, William Daniel, Baso Darmawan, Julia Day, Suzanna Dayne, H.S. Dillon, Angela Dowman, Sarah Dry, Harriet Dudley, Lynleigh Evans, Emmy Fitri, Bill Forster, Sheila Forster, Paul Gully, Fenni Firman Gunardi, Percy Hawkes, Heru Hendratmoko, David Heymann, Olga Jonas, Nyoman Kandun, Phemo Kgomotso, Bayu Krisnamurthi, James McGrane, Anni McLeod, Abdil Mughis, Fahrul Muzaqqi, David Nabarro, Pangeran Nasution, Joachim Otte, Mildred Piovesan‐Forster, Bugie Prasetyo, Maggie Pryer, Maya Purboputri, Iqbal Rafani, Arie Rukmantara, Jonathan Rushton, Imelda Salajan, Gina Samaan, Heru Setijanto, Mohammad Sudomo, Irene Susilo, Linnet Taylor, Ron Thornton, Marites Tiongco, Fred Unger, Anny Veradiani, Agung Wahyono, Emma Watkins, Bimo Wicaksana, Sridadi Wiryosuhanto, Erinaldi Yulizar, and Irsyad Zamjani. STATUTORY STATEMENT This thesis has not previously been submitted to Sussex University, or any other university, for a degree, in this or any other form. Signed William Paul Forster iii CONTENTS 1. Introduction ...................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 A ‘slippery’ disease ...................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Thesis structure ........................................................................................................... 8 1.3 Studying the issue ....................................................................................................... 9 1.4 Why Indonesia? ......................................................................................................... 13 1.5 Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 20 2. Conceptual background .................................................................................................. 21 2.1 Introduction .............................................................................................................. 21 2.2 Constructing risk ....................................................................................................... 23 2.3 Globalising risk .......................................................................................................... 28 2.4 Defining modernity ................................................................................................... 32 2.5 Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 36 3. Methodology ................................................................................................................... 38 3.1 Where am I coming from? ........................................................................................ 38 3.2 In the air .................................................................................................................... 42 3.3 On the ground ........................................................................................................... 45 3.4 Data analysis ............................................................................................................. 52 3.5 Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 55 4. Global policy .................................................................................................................... 57 4.1 Global directions ....................................................................................................... 57 4.2 Politics and pandemics .............................................................................................. 61 4.3 United nations? ......................................................................................................... 65 4.4 Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 76 5. Indonesia: cultural and political background .................................................................. 78 5.1 Ruptures and revolutions .......................................................................................... 78 5.2 Living on the volcano ................................................................................................ 81 5.3 Material modernity ................................................................................................... 86 5.4 Conclusion ................................................................................................................. 91 6. Indonesia: H5N1 policy response and citizen practices .................................................. 93 6.1 Slow off the mark ...................................................................................................... 94 6.2 International influences ............................................................................................ 96 6.3 The weight of history ................................................................................................ 99 iv 6.4 Inveterate aviculturalists ........................................................................................ 101 6.5 Consumption and consumers ................................................................................. 103 6.6 Big business ............................................................................................................. 106 6.7 On the farm ............................................................................................................. 113 6.8 In the backyard........................................................................................................ 117 6.9 Conclusion ............................................................................................................... 121 6.10 Introducing the case studies ................................................................................