Indigeneity as Social Construct and Political Tool: Critique and Reconstruction of a Contested Identity

Indigeneity as Social Construct and Political Tool shows that indigeneity is neither a static identity nor a vestige of the past but a dynamic and evolving framework capable of shaping the future through political imagination, technological innovation, and environmental stewardship. While indigenous identity is often perceived as fixed, natural, or objective, political theorist Benjamin Gregg reconceptualizes it as a practice —a social construct that, when critically examined and strategically reconstructed, functions as a powerful political tool. Through this lens, Indigenous communities can reclaim history, assert sovereignty, influence technological futures, and exercise environmental leadership. Indigeneity then is not merely a category of analysis but a generative proposition for the twenty-first century: a capacity to reimagine politics, equity, empowerment, and resilience, alongside ecological responsibility on a globally interconnected scale. Gregg not only establishes this theoretical foundation by reinterpreting classical thinkers such as Vitoria and Rousseau but also illuminates the tangible potentials and real-world impacts that emerge at the intersection of modern science and Indigenous experience.