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Burma in diaspora: a preliminary research note on the politics of Burmese diasporic communities in Asia
[journal article]
Abstract This research note focuses on the far-flung Burmese overseas communities, situating
them into the wider diaspora literature. Drawing on extant scholarship on refugees,
migrants and exiled dissidents of Burmese origin, it presents an original cartography
of Burmese diasporic grou... view more
This research note focuses on the far-flung Burmese overseas communities, situating
them into the wider diaspora literature. Drawing on extant scholarship on refugees,
migrants and exiled dissidents of Burmese origin, it presents an original cartography
of Burmese diasporic groups dispersed throughout Asia. It explores their migration
patterns and tentatively maps out their transnational networks. It seeks to comparatively
examine the relationships these polymorphous exiled groups have developed with the
homeland. Two research questions have been identified and need further exploration
in the context of the post-junta opening that has been observed since 2011: First,
what comprises the contribution of the Burmese diaspora to political change and homeland
democratization? This has been widely debated over the years. Despite a dynamic transnational
activism, there is still little evidence that overseas Burmese have influenced recent
domestic political developments. Second and subsequently, how can the Burmese diaspora
effectively generate social and economic change back home: by “remitting” or by “returning”?
This note argues that Burmese migrant social and financial remittances might prove
a more viable instrument to foster development and democratization inside Myanmar
in the short term than a mere homecoming of exiles and skilled migrants. This is a
preliminary analysis that hopes to encourage further research on Burmese diasporic
politics and their potential leverage as “agents of change”.... view less
Keywords
Myanmar; diaspora; democratization; refugee; migrant; exile; political influence; political development; socioeconomic development; country of origin; remigration; Southeast Asia
Classification
Migration, Sociology of Migration
Free Keywords
Burma; transnationalism; agents of change; migrant remittances; 1980-2012
Document language
English
Publication Year
2012
Page/Pages
p. 115-147
Journal
Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, 31 (2012) 2
ISSN
1868-4882
Status
Published Version; peer reviewed
Licence
Creative Commons - Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works