Burmese Refugee Transnationalism: What Is the Effect?

Abstract: "Burmese refugees in Thailand maintain economic, social and
political links with their country of origin, but these transnational activities
are influenced by the politics and level of development of the country of
origin and the host country. Through transnational activities, refugees can
have a positive impact on the home country by contributing to peace-building
and development or they can enhance conflict, as the discussion on
community engagement and political transnationalism will illustrate. Clearly,
the increased capacity and networks of the Burmese diaspora have bestowed
it with a large (future) potential to influence peace-building, development
and conflict. Therefore, it is argued here that the various civil, political and
military groups in exile should be included in the peace-building process
initiated by international actors, next to stakeholders inside the country."...

Keywords: Burma/ Myanmar, Burmese refugees, transnationalism, diaspora
conflict, development, peace-building....
ISSN: 1868-4882 (online), ISSN: 1868-1034 (print)