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Decolonizing Britain in the 21st Century?: Chagos Islanders challenge the Crown, House of Lords, 30 June‐3 July 2008
Author(s) -
Vine David
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
anthropology today
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.419
H-Index - 24
eISSN - 1467-8322
pISSN - 0268-540X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1467-8322.2008.00603.x
Subject(s) - homeland , indigenous , law , democracy , human rights , politics , sociology , government (linguistics) , indigenous rights , political science , ecology , linguistics , philosophy , biology
This article discusses the anthropological, legal, and political significance of a recent lawsuit before the House of Lords involving the people of the UK‐controlled Chagos Archipelago, exiled during creation of the US military base on Diego Garcia. Building on a growing body of anthropological and historical literature about the people and the base, the article reviews the history leading up to the June hearing and describes its proceedings as part of the islander's four‐decades‐old movement to win a return to their homeland. On the one hand, it represents the closest the Chagossians have come to a return in nearly 40 years. On the other, the case holds implications for the right of return of other displaced peoples, the rights of indigenous peoples more broadly, the limits of government authority, the balance of power in British parliamentary democracy, and the deepening of democracy worldwide. The suit holds significance for anthropologists studying indigenous peoples, displacement and migration, human rights, the law, government officials, and foreign policy.