Khin Yamone Zaw (2023) Perceptions of online harassment: ethnographical research of Myanmar university students

Title: Perceptions of online harassment: ethnographical research of Myanmar university students

Author: Khin Yamone Zaw

Year: 2023

Keywords: online harassment, gender, emotional well-being, online participation, Myanmar

Theme: Public Sphere and Media

Advisor(s): Balazs Szanto

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: The rapid expansion of digital technology and internet connectivity in Myanmar over the past years has immensely transformed how people live, work, and interact, bringing various benefits to society. Despite these benefits, online harassment remains a severe and pervasive problem in the digital age. A few existing literature and studies on the Myanmar context suggest that young people, particularly young women, are subjected to online harassment. There is currently a lack of literature in Myanmar that investigates online harassment against young women through a gender lens. This study aims to fill this literature gap and examine the prevalence of online harassment experienced by young women in Myanmar and its impacts on their emotional well-being and online participation. Drawing on feminist theory and intersectionality, this study investigates how gendered power dynamics have influence on online harassment encounters of young women from diverse ethnicities and religions. The study employs a qualitative approach, conducting semi-structured, in-depth interviews with nine young women attending a private university in Myanmar to get unique insights into their experiences with online harassment. By using thematic analysis on the data, the findings reveal that young women faced various forms of online harassment, including online sexual harassment, receiving negative or offensive comments, and online impersonation. The results also show negative impacts on young women’s emotional well-being and online participation, resulting in severe emotional distress, feeling scared, helpless, and frustrated, leading to decreased online participation and self-censorship in digital spaces. Young women in the study experienced online harassment in a more gendered way, and these experiences are exacerbated by cultural and gender norms in Myanmar society, which reflect broader patterns of gender inequality and systemic sexism. By addressing the gap in existing literature and offering a comprehensive analysis of online harassment through a gender lens, this study contributes valuable insights to the existing body of literature on gender, digital technology, and development in the Myanmar context by offering evidence-based findings on how young women in Myanmar encountered various forms of online harassment and how it has adverse impacts on their emotional well-being and online participation. The potential measures suggested by the participants are crucial for policymakers, social media platforms, development practitioners and other relevant organizations to develop gender-sensitive approaches to policy interventions to effectively address the issue. The study highlights the urgent need to address and tackle the online harassment issue to create a safe and inclusive digital environment for all individuals

Balancing matters?re-visiting security-development nexus and its operation on ‘secure and prosperous’ national goals Thailand 2014-2024

Title: Balancing matters?re-visiting security-development nexus and its operation on ‘secure and prosperous’ national goals Thailand 2014-2024

Author: Miss Thiraphon Singlor

Year: 2023

Keywords: Security-Development Nexus, National Development, National Policies, National Power, Hard Power, Military Roles in Development, Thailand

Theme: Post Development

Advisor(s): Balazs Szanto

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: The main objective of this thesis is to assess the significance of the security-development nexus for Thailand and explore the necessity of achieving balance within it. Through qualitative document analysis, the study addresses two research questions—the operations and implications of the nexus for the country’s security and prosperity. It assesses the theory of ‘balance’ across Thailand’s national-level policies, encompassing the 20-Year National Strategy and its overarching national goals of Security, Prosperity, and Sustainability, as well as the National Economic and Social Development Policy and Plan, National Security Policy and Plan, and Defense Policy. Findings reveal that Thailand’s security and development policies continue to evolve from Cold War influences, adapting to modernization trends, including integration into the global economy while navigating external pressures. Thailand maintains flexibility and international stability through its longstanding balance of power strategy, while also demonstrating ambition in assuming leadership roles in development. These policies acknowledge security and development as both instruments and objectives. However, analysis based on international indexes and national progress reports reveals that Thailand’s current trajectory exhibits both acceptable and unacceptable imbalances, failing to achieve high levels of either goal. This finding emphasizes the pivotal importance of maintaining a balanced strategy. The balanced nexus could be acknowledged as a form of national power, specifically hard power, to further enhance Thailand’s balance of power. This thesis underscores the nexus’s significance for aspiring middle-power countries seeking socio-economic development and international influence. It recommends that Thailand address the unacceptable imbalance by refining its ‘military modernity’ and the military roles in development, essential for leveraging military capabilities in national development effectively

Anastasia Sylvia (2022) Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO)'s role in digitalization for vocational education development: A comparative analysis of Indonesia and Thailand

Title: Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization (SEAMEO)'s role in digitalization for vocational education development: A comparative analysis of Indonesia and Thailand

Author: Anastasia Sylvia

Year: 2022

Keywords: Regional Cooperation in Education, Vocational Education, Industry 4.0, Digitalisation in Education, Indonesia, Thailand, SEAMEO, GIZ, SEAMEO VOCTECH

Theme: Civil society and Democracy

Advisor(s): Vong-on Phuaphansawat

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: This thesis focuses on the role of the SEAMEO (Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organization) role in vocational education development in Industry 4.0. Nowadays, there is a demand for the education sector to align with Industry 4.0, known as Education 4.0. In 2018, the SEAMEO, in collaboration with the GIZ, launched a Regional In-Service Training Modules project to support vocational education for Education 4.0. This study compares the impact of the Regional In-Service Training Modules project in two countries with a medium level of education performance in Southeast Asia: Indonesia and Thailand.This study employs a qualitative method with a case study. Data are collected from depth-interviews with 11 key informants, concept notes, original publications and literature from reliable sources. Data are analyzed using a thematic analysis method and Stuffle Beam's CIPP (Context, Input, Process, Product) evaluation model as a conceptual framework.Overall, this thesis concludes that SEAMEO matters for education development and supporting digitalisation in vocational education for Indonesia and Thailand.There are three significant findings from this study. Firstly, this study found that SEAMEO has provided access to conduct a project at the regional level and gather participants from 11 countries simultaneously. However, SEAMEO's level of intervention is limited due to their non-binding and non-intervention nature, like ASEAN. Secondly, this study found that digitalisation in vocational education does not mean going fully digital; Instead, vocational education shifts towards blended learning by combining online and face-to-face learning. The analysis concludes that practical skills in vocational education are hard to be taught online. Thirdly, the project's different outcomes at the national level are affected by national policy, participants' initiative, funding from GIZ and governments, and the center for practical training readiness in teaching about Industry 4.0.Based on the findings and analysis, this study recommends that SEAMEO collaborate with private sectors for their upcoming project to improve their quality. Secondly, vocational education institution in Indonesia and Thailand should strengthen their relationship with Industry to understand the criteria for skilled labor that Industry expects. Last, the Indonesian and Thai governments could learn from each other to improve education policiesThis thesis aims to study the role of SEAMEO (Southeast Asian Ministers of Education) in developing vocational education in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, or Industry 4.0. Currently, there is a need for the education sector to develop in line with Industry 4.0, or Education 4.0. In 2022, SEAMEO, together with the German International Cooperation Agency (GIZ), launched the Regional In-Service Training Modules project to support vocational education in Industry 4.0. This research compares the outcomes of the Regional In-Service Training Modules project in two Southeast Asian countries with average educational outcomes: Indonesia and Thailand. This research employs qualitative methods with case studies. Data was collected through in-depth interviews with 11 key informants, recording key ideas, original publications, and literature reviews from reliable sources. The data was analyzed using thematic analysis and the Stuffle Beam's CIPP (Context, Input, Process, Product) evaluation model as the overall conceptual framework for this thesis. In summary, SEAMEO is crucial for the development of education and digital support in vocational education for Indonesia and Thailand. This study yielded three key findings: Firstly, the study found that SEAMEO provides access to implement regional projects and brings together participants from 11 countries simultaneously. However, SEAMEO's level of intervention is limited due to its lack of legally binding effect and its non-intervention compared to ASEAN. Secondly, the study found that the digital transformation in vocational education does not necessarily mean full digitalization, but rather a shift towards blended learning combining online and face-to-face classroom learning. The analysis concludes that teaching practical skills in vocational education online is challenging. Thirdly, the differing outcomes of projects at the national level are impacted by national policies, participant initiatives, funding from GIZ and the government, and centers for practical training readiness in industry-related instruction. 4.0 Based on this research and analysis, it is recommended that SEAMEO collaborate with the private sector on future projects to improve quality. Secondly, vocational education institutions in Indonesia and Thailand should strengthen their relationships with industry to understand the criteria for skilled labor that industry expects. Finally, the Indonesian and Thai governments can learn from each other to improve their educational policies more effectively.

Hsan Thawdar Htun (2022) Unpacking gender inequality for inclusive development: a case study of Myanmar female migrant workers in Samut Sakhon Province, Thailand

Title: Unpacking gender inequality for inclusive development: a case study of Myanmar female migrant workers in Samut Sakhon Province, Thailand

Author: Hsan Thawdar Htun

Year: 2022

Keywords: Gender inequality, Gender Discrimination, Intersectionality, Myanmar female migrant workers, Thailand’s seafood industry

Theme: Gender

Advisor(s): Naruemon Thabchumpon

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: The study aims to address the issue of gender inequality in Thailand's seafood industry, with a specific focus on Myanmar female migrant workers in Mahachai (Samut Sakhon province). Although women migrant workers play a significant role in Thailand's economy, they have been facing various challenges in low-wage industries. Gender inequality remains a prominent concern in these low-skilled labor-intensive workplaces like seafood industry. While there have been studies on migration that include both men and women or focus solely on women, gender has not received sufficient emphasis in understanding the experiences of female migrant workers, particularly in the seafood industry. This research aims to fill this gap by examining the prevalent features of gender inequality in the working and living conditions of Myanmar female migrant workers in the seafood industry by applying the intersectionality theory. The research adopts a case-study qualitative approach, by collecting primary and secondary data. Face-to-face semi-structured interviews are conducted with 10 Myanmar female migrant workers from the seafood industry, both within and outside formal factory settings as well as 2 civil society organization members from the labour network called Migrant Workers Rights Network (MWRN). By using content analysis and presenting unique case studies of female migrant workers, the study finds that Myanmar female migrant workers in the seafood industry, face gender discrimination and gender inequality based on multiple intersecting factors such as gender, migration status, marital status, ethnicity that relates to intersectionality. Gender inequality and discrimination features are more prevalent when migration status is added in the intersection of gender and marital status in the seafood industry. The findings of this research will serve as a valuable resource for development experts and non-governmental actors to develop gender-responsive strategies and to promote the role of women migrant workers in Thailand's industrial growth

Tita Phairaksa (2022) Assessing the contribution of Thailand’s poultry agribusiness towards mitigating climate change

Title: Assessing the contribution of Thailand’s poultry agribusiness towards mitigating climate change

Author: Tita Phairaksa

Year: 2022

Keywords: N.A

Theme: Environmental Politics and Policy

Advisor(s): Carl Nigel Middleton

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: This research provides an overview of the Thailand agreement on greenhouse gas emissions, specifically focusing on the meat industry, and examines the roles of the government, private companies, and civil society in Thailand. Research indicates that the meat industry has significant environmental impacts, including greenhouse gas emissions, deforestation, and biodiversity loss.Livestock for meat consumption has been a major contributor to environmental issues such as climate change, water pollution, and deforestation. Livestock alone contributes a substantial percentage to global climate change. This issue has become a critical transboundary concern affecting not only one specific country or region.In response to the environmental impacts and the global challenge of climate change, the Thai government signed and committed to the Paris Agreement in 2015, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Thailand has set a target to decrease greenhouse gas emissions by 20% by 2030, and the Climate Change Master Plan (2015-2050) envisions achieving sustainable low-carbon growth and climate resilience by 2050. However, the country's environmental policy still lacks clarity and a specific focus on greenhouse gas emissions from the meat industry.Currently, Thai meat industries do not include information about greenhouse gas emissions in their environmental reports, and they tend to overlook environmental issues related to their operations. Moreover, these industries possess significant influence over the media, controlling information about the environmental impact of the meat industry. As a result, civil society has taken a leading role in raising awareness about this issue, rather than relying on the government or industry itself.In conclusion, my research findings suggest that the Thai government's lack of a robust environmental policy and management approach has contributed to weak regulation of greenhouse gas emissions in the meat industry. There is a need for more comprehensive and concerted efforts from all stakeholders to address this pressing environmental concern effectively

Yamonh Pwint Thit (2022) FPTP electoral system of Myanmar as a barrier for Ethnic Minority Inclusiveness in parliamentary decision-making

Title: FPTP electoral system of Myanmar as a barrier for Ethnic Minority Inclusiveness in parliamentary decision-making

Author: Yamonh Pwint Thit

Year: 2022

Keywords: Inclusiveness, Ethnic Minority, FPTP, Representation

Theme: Civil society and Democracy

Advisor(s): Balazs Szanto

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: In Myanmar, the ethnic minority do not have equal access to public services to raise their issues and voices for it. They are not adequately represented in state institutions by the political system which does not grant the adequate opportunities to participate in decision-making at union level.Ethnic minorities believe that all groups should have equal access to public services and enjoy an efficient system of protection of human rights. Ethnic Diversity may result in tensions within the nation when one group is economically or socially or politically dominant or privileged. By being discriminated and marginalized through the political system, ethnic grievances have centered on the lack of inclusive decision making and it leads to internal tension and civil wars between ethnic groups and government. Hence, the lack of ethnic minority inclusiveness and a weak system of fair representation impact on the human security of ethnic minority groups. The electoral system of Myanmar, “First Past the Post” (FPTP) did not create a fair share of seats according to the number of votes each political party receives. As a result, these groups do not get their preferred representatives to raise their voices in parliament, while the winner who represents only some people becomes the representative of the whole constituency. Thus, Myanmar’s current electoral system is not creating inclusive representation of political parties in parliament.According to the principle of inclusivity, governance systems should ensure that all significant communities in a country are represented in state institutions and that they are granted adequate opportunities to meaningfully influence decision making. Paper will explain about the ethno-nationalism and the history of Myanmar, Electoral system and Constitution which diminish the inclusiveness and re-designing the considerable electoral system for better inclusiveness.

Ma Khaw Lwe (2022) The Community Forestry case study in KIO-controlled areas, Momauk Township in Kachin State Myanmar

Title: The Community Forestry case study in KIO-controlled areas, Momauk Township in Kachin State, Myanmar

Author: Ma Khaw Lwe

Year: 2022

Keywords: N.A

Theme: Environmental Politics and Policy

Advisor(s): Carl Nigel Middleton

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: In Kachin State, Myanmar, forests are crucial for sustaining livelihoods and cultural significance for the Kachin people. However, recent decades have seen rapid changes driven by state-led development, economic growth, and prolonged conflict with Kachin Independence Army (KIO) and the Myanmar Tatmadaw. This has resulted in overexploitation, deforestation, and the conversion of forest lands to contract farming, particularly near the border with eastern Kachin State and China. To address these challenges, CF programs were introduced in KIOcontrolled areas with active involvement from local NGOs. Consequently, nine villages in Momauk and Mansi townships first obtained CF certificates from the KIO government, proactively establishing community forests to support sustainable livelihoods and systematic forest management. The primary objective of this research is to explore how Community Forest (CF) programs in Kachin-controlled areas can be strengthened through inclusive governance practices to enhance sustainable forest use and improve livelihoods. Adopting qualitative research methods, this study specifically focuses on two communities in Momauk Township that have been actively practicing CF for the past decade. Through in-depth interviews and group discussions, the research aims to identify inclusive governance practices that positively contribute to sustainability, while also highlighting weaknesses or failures that require improvement. The findings reveal that community forestry governance arrangements in Kachincontrolled areas have evolved to become more inclusive, actively involving all community members in decision-making processes. Traditional local practices and indigenous knowledge have significantly contributed to promoting sustainable forest use, supported by external stakeholders through education, training, and incentives. However, challenges persist, requiring a legal framework to address resource exploitation by local authorities, which poses risks to the long-term sustainability of CF initiatives. In conclusion, this thesis provides valuable insights into strengthening Community Forestry programs in Kachin-controlled areas. By analyzing inclusive governance practices and identifying areas for improvement, this research contributes to the promotion of sustainable forest management and improved livelihoods for ethnic communities in the region.

Yukari Otsuka (2022) Human Security of the Karen Community in Chiang Mai’s Forest Fires, Thailand

Title: Human Security of the Karen Community in Chiang Mai’s Forest Fires, Thailand

Author: Yukari Otsuka

Year: 2022

Keywords: N.A

Theme: Human Development and Human Security

Advisor(s): Naruemon Thabchumpon

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: When studying the human security of marginalized people such as indigenous people, they are generally interpreted as a focus that needs to be particularly protected. However, it differs in the context of natural disasters in Chiang Mai, Thailand. Karen people, one of the largest ethnic populations in Chiang Mai, are subsistent farmers who use fires as a life tool and are often blamed as the cause of forest fires. As one kind of natural disaster, forest fires are a common occurrence in Northern Thailand every dry season. Chiang Mai is one of the significant provinces in Thailand with the eighth population and experiences devasting forest fires. To solve the issues of forest fires and associated air pollution, the government implemented a non-burning policy that impacts the farming procedures of the Karen community and their entire human security situation.This research applies a qualitative method and utilizes a case study of the devastating forest fires in Chiang Mai in 2020. Through semi-structured interviews with Karen villagers (n=15) in Chiang Mai with the aid of a research assistant, this research aims to assess the human security situation of the Karen community facing forest fires. This research explores forest fires’ impacts on the Karen community through a Human Security lens. This research also examines conditions and factors that affect human security situations and vulnerability and capability that impact the Karen community.This research finds that the policy executed without arranging and preparing a counterplan with Karen farmers who are “citizens” directly affected the entire Karen community in Chiang Mai. This research concludes that this political insecurity hugely affected the entire human security of the Karen community facing forest fires, especially food and health security. This research, therefore, argues that the capability of the Karen community to enhance their human security situation is limited by political insecurities and ethical discrimination.

Kazuhiro Watanabe (2022) Migrant trainees and social inclusion : a study of construction and electronics company in Japan

Title: Migrant trainees and social inclusion : a study of construction and electronics company in Japan

Author: Kazuhiro Watanabe

Year: 2022

Keywords: social inclusion, migrant trainees, TITP, international development

Theme: Migration

Advisor(s): Supang Chantavanich

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: This research analyzed the Technical Intern Training Program (TITP) by using the concept of social inclusion and discussed the factors that inhibit the social inclusion of trainees. Not much previous research on has been done on this because trainees are allowed to stay in Japan temporarily and they must go back to their home countries after the training is over. However, trainees contribute economic growth in Japan and play an important role for solving issues of the labor force. Realizing social inclusion of trainees is thus a significant issue for Japan. Factors that inhibit the social inclusion of trainees includes language barriers, institutional barriers”, and psychological barriers. Through a case study of Nagasaki city, the local governments’ initiatives contribute to include foreign trainees in Japanese society through programs such as citizen volunteers, language classes and legal consultation.This research concluded that increasing the opportunities to contact foreign workers and Japanese workers in regards to understanding the issues that foreign workers face in Japan are key factors to realize the social inclusion of trainees. To realize the international development role of TITP and safe migration, it is necessary to create clear criteria for Japanese language education and create an environment where all stakeholders work together to support trainees.

Clare Steiner (2022) Climate Imaginaries and Human Mobility: complicating climate mobility as adaptation in Thailand

Title: Climate Imaginaries and Human Mobility: complicating climate mobility as adaptation in Thailand

Author: Clare Steiner

Year: 2022

Keywords: Climate Migration, Human Mobility, Climate Change, Thailand

Theme: Human Development and Human Security

Advisor(s): Carl Nigel Middleton

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: For centuries, agricultural households in Thailand have engaged in mobility to adapt to environmental change and climate shocks. However, current framings of “climate migration as adaptation” obscure how these adaptation pathways are constructed by existing power relations, leaving institutions liable to re-enforce inequality. This thesis uses the concept of “imaginaries” to de-construct how certain knowledge and values advance over others in the process of negotiating and acting towards a preferable future. It employs a dual methodological approach with a case study of Baan Non Daeng in Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand to analyze dominant imaginaries in Thailand and their function and limitations in assessing smallholder farmer mobility decision-making in the context of slow on-set environmental change. The thesis first performs a discourse analysis of institutional policy texts on climate change, migration, and development in Thailand to find that institutions value futures that encourage smallholder farmers to leverage their existing resources and act as entrepreneurial agents of development. It also finds that climate mobility imaginaries are founded on the idea of the well-resourced migrant who has access to longer distance mobilities that can transform rural livelihoods. The thesis then uses interviews conducted in Baan Non Daeng to complicate these imaginaries and engage with structural political economy factors driving relative (im)mobilities. It finds that relative positioning influences household perceptions of environmental risks and resources that contribute towards differing practices and scales of mobility. The thesis ends by arguing for processes like knowledge co-production and translocal visioning that better address root issues of marginalization in policy and practice

Su Myat Thwe (2022) Intersectionality and livelihoods of conflict-induced displaced Myanmar women in Mae Sot, Thailand

Title: Intersectionality and livelihoods of conflict-induced displaced Myanmar women in Mae Sot, Thailand

Author: Su Myat Thwe

Year: 2022

Keywords: N.A

Theme: Conflict Resolution and Peace Studies

Advisor(s): Naruemon Thabchumpon

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: The Sustainable Development Goals Report (2022) highlighted the global displacement crisis as 24.5 million population impacted by conflict by mid-2021; 311 out of every 100,000 people worldwide seeking refuge outside their country of origin[1]. The cycle of migration to Thailand from Myanmar has a special history with many intersecting factors of forced migration and a new trend emerges following 1st February 2021: only 1,527 cases in 9 shelters[2]; 986,670 regularized as migrant workers in 2021[3]; tens of thousands of unrecorded. The role of Myanmar’s unsung heroines cannot go forgotten. From a sociocultural conservative country with a constitution drafted by a patriarchal institution, women have increasingly involved in the revolution either as active actors or as a rearguard while armed resistance intensifies - 44% of Myanmar regularized workers in Thailand are women when most of the job openings for women tend to be in informal sectors[4]. Due to the fast-paced development of the conflict in Myanmar, while the prolonged civil unrest or the recent events are often viewed from a traditional security lens, the subtlety of women’s role in the cross-border settlement and the elusive nature of intersectionality in non-convention party state are rarely approached from a human security perspective.This research provides a gendered intersectionality perspective on academic studies of human security in conflict-induced cross-border livelihoods while, at the same time, accentuating the resilience of women in displacement situations during conflict times amidst the elusive nature of discrimination at different levels. Through focusing on the human security of Myanmar women in Mae Sot asking how the unfulfilled aspects of human rights in country-of-origin Myanmar and prejudice towards individual identities they hold onto intersect with getting legal protection and socioeconomic standing in the host country Thailand, which livelihood assets the individuals have and in what ways the actors are ensuring such have been explored through integrative inputs from expert practitioners and community actors to introduce how transdisciplinary approach to participatory humanitarian assistance can help build the resilience of such population to achieve sustainable livelihoods. [1] UN DESA (2022). The Sustainable Development Goals Report 2022 - July 2022. New York, USA: UN DESA. © UN DESA. https://unstats.un.org/sdgs/report/2022/[2] TBC (2021, 2022). Refugee Camp Population: January 2021 vs Refugee Camp Population: December 2022. The Border Consortium.[3] ILO. (2022). TRIANGLE in ASEAN Quarterly Briefing Note: Myanmar (July to September 2022). Bangkok: International Labour Organization.[4] Sakulsri, T. (2022). Challenges of Labor Migrants to Thailand: Issues of Bilateral Agreements for the Employment of Workers in the Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS). Journal of Population and Social Studies

Su Myat Noe (2022) Studying the Failure of Democratization in Myanmar from the Perspective of Electoral Politics

Title: Studying the Failure of Democratization in Myanmar from the Perspective of Electoral Politics

Author: Su Myat Noe

Year: 2022

Keywords: Myanmar, elections, military coup, democratization.

Theme: Civil society and Democracy

Advisor(s): Balazs Szanto

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: This paper will examine the relations between elections and democratic transition in Myanmar after 2010. From 2011 until the coup in February 2021, Myanmar had elections to elect a government after decades of military rule. The elections led to the first civilian government to form a government in 2016. In the past ten years of democratization, there have been no significant election fraud or manipulations. However, the electoral system in Myanmar could not be a stabilizing and legitimate institution for democratic rule. Rather, it was ineffective in embedding democratic values in society and in limiting the authority of the military and civilian political elites. In this paper, the instance of Myanmar is placed within the context of democratization literature and the ways in which elections affect the costs of oppression and toleration between the ruling party and the opposition. This paper will analyze that even when free and fair elections are held, the democratic process can still fail if the elections cannot increase the costs of oppression and decrease the costs of toleration. It will explain that, despite generally free and fair elections in Myanmar prior to the coup in February 2021, they were unable to hold the powerful institutions accountable to the people and foster a situation where elites upheld democratic norms and exercised self-control.

Aye Pa Pa Moe (2021) A study of Covid-19 crisis communication in Myanmar (January 2020-January 2021) : Divergences between ministry of health and sports and state counsellor

Title: A study of Covid-19 crisis communication in Myanmar (January 2020-January 2021) : Divergences between ministry of health and sports and state counsellor

Author: Aye Pa Pa Moe

Year: 2021

Keywords: Crisis Communication, Myanmar, Covid-19, Pandemic, Infodemic

Theme: Public Sphere and Media

Advisor(s): Balazs Szanto

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: Effective crisis communication is critical in a country like Myanmar, which has a vulnerable population and a newly democratically elected government. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Myanmar's government established multi communication channels to interact directly with its citizens and other actors, including government agencies, allowing for active stakeholder participation in crisis management. The purpose of this research is to identify the Myanmar government's crisis communication strategy in managing the COVID issue at the national level from January 2020 to January 2021. The study will take a three-stage approach to crisis management, with pre-crisis, crisis, and post-crisis stages. It also explored Myanmar's government's public relations activities and its communication efforts during the COVID-19 crisis (first wave and second wave). The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed the Myanmar government to embrace or increase their use of digital platforms. The paper explores how, in reaction to the COVID infodemic, the Myanmar government used both traditional and new media—specifically, social media—to its advantage during the pandemic. Furthermore, the study identifies the strengths and weaknesses of Myanmar's crisis communication and management strategies, as well as the lessons learned and issues encountered in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis. The study employs a qualitative case study methodology with an explanatory approach because the government crisis communication in Myanmar has never been thoroughly investigated. Study analysis is based on document research and primary data of artefacts (the communication avenues) that reflected government work during COVID. The paper evaluates the Myanmar government's policies and frameworks, as well as its crisis communication strategy and model, from the COVID-19 crisis to January 2021.

Susan Moe Kyaw (2021) Ecological system and psychosocial well-being of Myanmar migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic "a case of Mahachai"

Title: Ecological system and psychosocial well-being of Myanmar migrant workers during the COVID-19 pandemic "a case of Mahachai"

Author: Susan Moe Kyaw

Year: 2021

Keywords: Ecological system, Psychosocial well-being, Social support, Myanmar migrant workers, Mahachai, COVID-19

Theme: Migration

Advisor(s): Naruemon Thabchumpon

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: The complex interactions in each ecological setting influence the psychosocial well-being of a person. Migrant workers’ well-being is highly influenced by their working conditions, security, and social relationship. They encounter not only work-related stress, and discrimination, but are also caused by socio-economic changes during the global crisis such as the Covid-19 outbreak.Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak in Thailand, Mahachai has been a place of many studies and research as it hosts thousands of migrant workers, and its major seafood production, fishery, metal, and other factories in its area. It draws the attention of migration scholars, policymakers, and researchers to its significant geographic nature, ethnic concentration, labor, and rights issues of migrant workers. Most significantly, the majority of the migrant workers are from Myanmar and they have been habiting there for quite a long time. It is known as “Little Myanmar” in Thailand. Many studies have been done in order to advocate labor rights, and wages, and uplift the infrastructure of migrant housing.Although the Covid-19 2nd wave outbreak unexpectedly come up with a number of locally transmitted cases among documented and undocumented migrant workers in Samut Sakhon, Thailand, there are just a few studies that investigated migrant workers-related issues. Hence, the study utilizes a qualitative research approach by an in-depth interview with 17 Myanmar migrant workers from Mahachai, Thailand, and analyzed by thematic analysis to explore the underlying factors that contribute to common stressful problems, social difficulties, and other barriers to accessing social services during their stay in Thailand during the COVID-19 pandemic. Besides, the study tends to identify the social support Myanmar migrant workers receive that impacts psychosocial well-being.The study primarily finds that changes in the physical conditions of migrant workers including poor working environments, mobility restrictions, and crowded housing are interrelated to emotional and social issues. Unemployment status and financial concerns also lead to emotional distress and other social issues. Secondly, the study suggests that the direct and indirect environments of migrant workers have a significant influence on physical, emotional, and social well-being. Most importantly, the social supports of actors in the mesosystem of Bronfenbrenner’s (1975) ecological settings indeed nourish the psychosocial well-being of the migrant population. In fact, positive social relationship with friends, relatives, and co-workers, and the various forms of social support such as emotional comfort, sharing information, giving advice, helping out with financial hardship, and seeking job connection strengthens the resilience and endurance of the migrant workers

Hans Kevin Madanguit (2021) Queering The Migrant Experience: Gay Filipino Workers’ Performance of Gender and Sexual Identities in Bangkok

Title: Queering The Migrant Experience: Gay Filipino Workers’ Performance of Gender and Sexual Identities in Bangkok

Author: Hans Kevin Madanguit

Year: 2021

Keywords: LGBTQ+, QUEER, SPACE, MIGRATION, BANGKOK, GAY FILIPINOS

Theme: Gender

Advisor(s): Bhanubhatra Jittiang

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: The Philippine migration scholarship heavily focuses on heteronormative issues that depict the migrant workers as heterosexuals. Due to this trend, there is a scarcity of studies on overseas Filipino workers who identify as part of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and Queer (LGBTQ+) Community. Hence, this qualitative research focuses on eleven documented Filipino workers in Thailand who are males assigned at birth and identify as gay homosexuals. Individual informal interviews were employed to investigate how they practice their non-normative gender and sexuality, given their multiple yet intersectional social identities in a country with vibrant queer cultures. It also probes the relationship between the queer Filipino migrant laborers and the Thai capital Bangkok’s queer spaces and how they influence one another. By drawing my analyses on queer theory to simultaneously engage the three disciplines of sexuality, spaces, and migration, the research exposes the critical role of queer spaces in the formation and confirmation of the migrants’ gender and sexual identities through their experience in finding acceptance and belongingness as well as satisfying their romantic and sexual pursuits in both physical and online gay-oriented spaces. The investigation led to a realization that their presence in these spaces became a contributing factor in the intensification of existing issues on the function and significance of gay spaces, such as its heterosexualization and reinforced gay audience segmentation while homonormalization is happening in heterosexual spaces, which may all have a serious impact on the future of queer cultures that Thailand had cultivated for more than half a century. This observation banks on the idea that although space is helpful in an individual’s identity formation, an individual is basically the creator of space because it is social. Queering the migrant experience presents the importance of gender and sexuality as identities in the migration process as the performance of these identities by migrant laborers allows them to be molded by the spaces they consume and, on the one hand, be active stakeholders that influence and manufacture the meanings of these spaces. Hence, being gay, homosexual, and migrant workers are fundamental roles in the flourishment of sexual identities, practices, and communities.

Josephine Therese Emily Teves (2021) Governmentality in the context of Japan-Funded Farm-to-Market road (FMR) in Agdangan Quezon Province, Philippines

Title: Governmentality in the context of Japan-Funded Farm-to-Market road (FMR) in Agdangan Quezon Province, Philippines

Author: Josephine Therese Emily Teves

Year: 2021

Keywords: N.A

Theme: Post Development

Advisor(s): Teewin Suputtikun

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: Recent studies have focused on the role of Official Development Assistance (ODA) in financing infrastructural projects and rural development programs. This study demonstrates how Japanese and Filipino aid authorities facilitated a Japan ODA-funded Farm-to-Market Road (FMR) subproject as a solution aiming to achieve the Agrarian Reform Community’s (ARC) overall poverty reduction and rural economic growth agenda to contribute to this literature. Drawing on Foucault's governmentality, Escobar’s development discourse, and Li’s “The Will to Improve,” this study shows ODA as an alliance emphasizing power relations and analyzing processes and interactions within the ODA-funded FMR subproject management stages. This study also examines the impact of the completed FMR on project beneficiaries, especially agrarian reform beneficiaries (ARBs). Finally, it argues that while the FMR fostered mutual understanding, beneficial relationships, and more significant advantages among the non-poor sector, such as aid authorities, the poor sector, such as ARBs, clamor for further support to maximize FMR opportunities.

Thinh Mai Phuc (2021) The Karen diaspora : transnational sense of belonging and practices after the 2021 Myanmar Coup

Title: The Karen diaspora : transnational sense of belonging and practices after the 2021 Myanmar Coup

Author: Thinh Mai Phuc

Year: 2021

Keywords: Karen refugees, diaspora, transnational practices, transnational belonging, Myanmar politics, 2021 Myanmar coup

Theme: Conflict Resolution and Peace Studies

Advisor(s): Jiraporn Laocharoenwong

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: This research examines the Karen diaspora’s transnational sense of belonging, ideological transition and tactics embodied in transnational activities after the 2021 Myanmar military coup. Looking at young Karen people in 5 host countries including the United States, Australia, Canada, Norway and Thailand, it is evident that those people in the diaspora still perceive the notion of homeland and maintain an emotional sense of belonging to their homeland after a long period of resettlement in host countries. In the context of the 2021 coup, those young people have engaged actively in transnational activities with various tactics used both on-site and online. Quantitative methods were applied including semi-structured interviews and online participant observations to understand how those young refugees feel connected to their homeland, as well as how and why those young refugees have engaged in transnational practices. After examining the narratives and ethnographic work, I argue that the transnational sense of belonging of young Karen people were shaped by narratives, memories, and Karen cultural practices in refugee camps; and those camps also become their memorial places. In addition, after the Myanmar military coup, those young Karen people expressed an ideological transition from ethno-nationalism to democracy and cosmopolitan orientation when engaging in transnational activities

Clara Mang Sui Tang (2021) A study of sustainability in the energy sector in Myanmar between 2011 and 2020

Title: A study of sustainability in the energy sector in Myanmar between 2011 and 2020

Author: Clara Mang Sui Tang

Year: 2021

Keywords: Energy security, Energy policy, Environmental policy, Energy Tariffs, Myanmar

Theme: Human Development and Human Security

Advisor(s): Balazs Szanto

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: In modern society, energy becomes a life supporting mechanism, as it is not only entangled with the environment pillar of sustainable development, but also inseparably related to the economic and social pillars of society. Taking advantage of a qualitative research method, this study critically examines the level of sustainability of Myanmar’s energy sector between 2011 and 2020, using 2011 as a baseline, by observing three critical components: energy security, environmental considerations in energy production and securing financial health for the sector.Energy security, possessing uninterrupted availability of energy sources at an affordable price, is studied from available macro secondary data in conjunction with an analysis of existing energy policies. The study concludes that, although the two successive Myanmar’s Union governments were able to generate and import energy to meet its soaring demand and maintain its energy security, it still fell short to improve energy security during the studied period.This thesis finds that environmental policy integration in the energy sector at the Union level is the most vibrant among the three components. Although there is still a long journey to undertake to meet international standards, the country was able to graduate from “traditional” environmental management and transitioned into a sound streamlined environmental safeguarding mechanism in the sector.Furthermore, the examination of Myanmar’s energy sector financial health in this study reflects the vital role energy tariffs play in the sustainability of a market economy. Although the two successive governments were able to raise electricity tariffs twice during the studied period, which new tariffs resulted in some improvement in the energy sector’s financial health, the sector still needs massive subsidies from the Union’s budget. This insecure financial health has impacted the sector’s productivity and functionality, but it also has a negative effect on the country’s wider socio-economic development, specifically affecting those who do not have access to modern electricity.Although this study does not find current satisfactory trends in any of the three studied components, it notes the improvements that the country was able to make especially considering the starting point of the journey - newly transitioning into a semi-democratic society from a military dictatorship. The study also provides pragmatic recommendations for the sector’s sustainability based on its research. By observing the energy sector from a bird’s eye view, this paper intends to initiate a deeper understanding of sustainability in Myanmar’s energy sector and potentially offer new premises and contentions for further debate on the subject

Naruemon Yamareng (2020) Factors and reasons of migration in Tambon Bannang Sata during the time of conflict

Title: Factors and reasons of migration in Tambon Bannang Sata during the time of conflict

Author: Naruemon Yamareng

Year: 2020

Keywords: migration, deep south, violent conflict, reason, factor, human, security, buddhist, muslim

Theme: Migration

Advisor(s): Chantana Wungaeo

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: This study aims to find out the reasons and factors of migration in Tambon Bannang Sata, one of the most violence-affected zones with high mobility rate, since the recurrence of violence in the south in 2004, and how those reasons and factors differ between Muslims and Buddhists. Interview of all categories of migration were carried out including in-migration, out-migration and non-migration. Human security is used as a framework for data collection and analysis. It is found that people moved in and out of Tambon Bannang Sata with many reasons which could be categorized into three mains reasons: family matters, fear and wants. Family factors were the biggest influence for people whether to move in, move out, or to stay in the area. In addition, job opportunity and financial wellbeing, which were classified as “want”, were other the prime reasons for all group. Study found that not as many respondents moved because of fear even they did fear living in the area. There were only two respondents who move merely because of fear, one Buddhist who feared insurgency and another Muslim who feared authority’s treatment. This study also found that fear, direct experience of the violence, and number of migrations in the area are not necessarily correlated. Fear correlates with the feeling of being disconnected and alienated from the Muslim community. Moreover, despite being fear, people might not find a reason to move because they are supported by other factors which shows a balance between fear and want. Reasons of out-migrant for not moving from the area were similar to other groups but they valued hometown, community and culture much more heavily

Cynthia Nitsch (2020) Environmental displacement in Thailand’s disaster policy and practice : A case study of Samut Chin

Title: Environmental displacement in Thailand’s disaster policy and practice : A case study of Samut Chin

Author: Cynthia Nitsch

Year: 2020

Keywords: N/A

Theme: Environmental Politics and Policy

Advisor(s): Carl Middleton

The full thesis available here.

Abstract: As the world is experiencing more frequent disasters, sudden and slow-onset, the number of communities facing displacement is rapidly increasing. Some international frameworks suggest definitions and promote human rights-based approaches to dealing with mobility caused by environmental concerns, however, there is no legal term nor general consensus on how to label this group of people. With a lack of agreement on how to categorize those displaced on the international stage, nations are left to create and implement their own definitions and policies to assist. Displaced groups experience specific vulnerabilities and are at risk of human rights violations. The responsibility to protect rights and alleviate vulnerabilities falls on states. Looking at a small village in the Samut Prakan province of central Thailand, Samut Chin, sea-level rise is inundating much of the village each year. Families are moving their homes farther from the coastline or relocating altogether. Interviews were conducted in the village to understand and assess the severity of specific vulnerabilities. An analysis was made of disaster laws and policies to determine the categorization given for environmentally displaced persons and what resources were allocated to them. After examining the appropriate policies established by both national and provincial disaster agencies and comparing them to the experiences of those facing displacement in Samut Chin, it is evident that they do not adequately consider and address all vulnerabilities. While many of Thailand’s disaster policies have plans and resources readily available to support during the immediate disaster response, there is insufficient recognition given to those affected by gradual environmental degradation or those facing long-term displacement. This gap in disaster policy will surely lead to a gap in the protection of human rights and the reduction of vulnerabilities. By identifying deficits in categorization and allocations in policy this information can be used to change existing policies. It can also benefit civil society, humanitarian organizations, and advocacy groups by highlighting specific areas that environmentally displaced people desperately need assistance.