ON THE CONTEMPORARY USES OF COLONIAL HISTORY AND THE LEGITIMATION OF POLITICAL-STATUS IN ARCHIPELAGIC SOUTHEAST SERAM

Drawing upon data from the Seram Laut and Gorom archipelagoes, this pa per examines how contemporary rulers legitimate their rights by assert ing links with sources of traditional authority. In particular, it is argued that archaic titles remain important because the colonial perio d stabilized the relationship between domains, and because such titles thus provide a means of validating claims to resources, combating sta te incursions and competing for influence, The possession of old docum ents supports such claims by confirming them in writing, but also by b eing old ''things'' linked to the person of the ruler.