Lost in sovereign space: Forced migrants in the territorial trap

Abstract

In the context of the troubled Burma-Thailand borderland relationship, the "place" of the migrant is greatly influenced by the highly contingent nature of cross-border politics and inter-state relationships. I argue that we cannot divorce the analysis of large-scale human displacement without examining the historical context and political geography context. To understand forced displacement in Burma, it is necessary to link it with the Burmese military regime's quest for national unity. This article discusses how this project leads to forced migration and long-term displacement of the Karenni and Shan. Also discussed are the consequences of displacement on the "migrants" and the human security and sovereignty dilemmas it engenders.