Issue 38

An Introduction — Health, Border, and Marginality: Toward Transdisciplinarity

The 47th Southeast Asia Seminar was held along the Thai-Myanmar border in the districts of Tha Song Yang, Mae Ramat, Mae Sot, and Phop Phra of Tak Province, Thailand, from December 7-14, 2023. ²

Organized by the Shoklo Malaria Research Unit (SMRU) and the Center for Southeast Asian Studies (CSEAS), Kyoto University, the seminar’s theme was “Health, Border, and Marginality: Toward Transdisciplinarity?” This special issue is one result of that journey through different spaces and among peoples of that border region. See HERE for the Seminar Report.

Read full Editor’s Introducation here

Thailand’s Senate Election: More Bad News for Thaksin and Puea Thai?

On June 27, 2024 elections for Thailand’s Senate were finalized and results announced to the public. The Bangkok Post described the outcome as a success noting that the “election gave Thai citizens their first taste […]

Thailand: An Urban Country

Thailand has witnessed significant transformations in its urbanization process over the past few decades, with diverse drivers shaping the country’s urban landscape. Understanding these key trends is crucial for policymakers and researchers to navigate the […]

Critical Counterpoints: Human-mosquito relations from the Thai-Myanmar borderlands to Singapore

Building on my previous work on environmental peacebuilding in Southeast Myanmar, my current research explores processes of “making peace” with disease-bearing mosquitos in Singapore. When I recently returned to the Thai-Myanmar borderlands for the 47th […]

The crime of caring

What does it mean when your own country does not care about you? Among others, this question swirls in my mind when I recall the places that we visited during the 47th Southeast Asia Seminar. […]

(Health) care and family (planning) of undocumented people along state borders

The 47th Southeast Asia Seminar offered an excellent opportunity to expand my focus from displaced Rohingya refugee families in South and Southeast Asia borderlands to gain a deeper understanding of different displaced groups in the […]

Circumventing undocumented-ness: Ethnic migrants along the Thai-Burma border pursue multiple mobilities

Having studied the migration of young Yunnanese migrants along the Thai-Burma border for several years, the 47th Southeast Asia Seminar gave me the chance to learn from other migrant communities, particularly the Karen. One commonality […]

Experiences in temporary host countries and their impact on integrating resettled refugees

As South Korea marks the 10th anniversary of its pilot resettlement program, research findings on the experiences of resettled refugees are emerging. The 47th Southeast Asia Seminar offered a timely opportunity to further my own […]

Enriching the land discourse from the Thai-Myanmar Border

Throughout the 47th Southeast Asia Seminar, participants examined a diverse range of topics from health to border dynamics and marginalization. Amidst the rich discussions, one theme particularly captured my attention: how people residing in borderlands […]

The Mae La “Temporary Shelter Area” as migration infrastructure & (im)mobility of people on the move

The Mae La “temporary shelter area” is the largest of nine such sites located along the Thailand-Myanmar border. It is situated in Tha Song Yang District, approximately 60 kilometers from the cross-border trading hub of […]

Intersections of health, border, and marginality: Field research enriches understanding of Japanese engagement with post-coup Myanmar

My academic career is marked by a prolonged focus on Japanese diplomacy and Asian politics. Currently, my research concentrates on Japan’s role in the health and social welfare of refugees and minorities. The consequences of […]

International relations research and borderland as inhabited space

Researchers and practitioners from multiple disciplines gathered to learn about and discuss the situation in the Thai-Myanmar border region during the 47th Southeast Asia Seminar. Field trips to several locations in Tak Province, Thailand generated […]

Springing Forward: Myanmar’s Rising Momentum and the Imperative for Future Accountability

The Spring Revolution signifies a grassroots commitment where Myanmar people are the primary source of strength, resilience, and determination. The revolution transcends various boundaries and is sustained by the unwavering unity of Myanmar people; a […]