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Introduction: Background of Protracted Conflict and Displacement in Myanmar

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Refugee and Return

Part of the book series: SpringerBriefs in Environment, Security, Development and Peace ((MIGST,volume 28))

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Abstract

After more than 60 years of conflict and displacement, Myanmar is now in the midst of political reform. A new nominally-civilian government and pledged elections in 2015 has raised hopes of a lasting democratic transition after decades of military rule. For the first time in decades, repatriation of refugees in Thailand is being discussed as a real and imminent possibility. This chapter introduces the current state of displacement along the Thai–Myanmar border, providing a background on the conflicts in Myanmar and other factors that have led to protracted displacement of several ethnic groups both within Myanmar and across state borders. The chapter sets the context for the rest of this book, which examines Myanmar as a post-conflict society and the reintegration processes that would need to occur to enable safe and voluntary return of persons displaced by the decades of conflict.

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Notes

  1. 1.

    At the time of Independence, the country was named Burma but the Government changed the formal name to Myanmar in 1989. The official name is the Republic of the Union of Myanmar.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

    Supang Chantavanich & Aungkana Kamonpetch

Authors
  1. Supang Chantavanich
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  2. Aungkana Kamonpetch
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Supang Chantavanich .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Asian Research Center for Migration (ARCM), Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok, Thailand

    Supang Chantavanich

  2. Asian Studies Asian Reser Center for Mig, Chulalongkorn University, Institute of Asian Studies Asian Reser Center for Mig, Bangkok, Thailand

    Aungkana Kamonpetch

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Chantavanich, S., Kamonpetch, A. (2017). Introduction: Background of Protracted Conflict and Displacement in Myanmar. In: Chantavanich, S., Kamonpetch, A. (eds) Refugee and Return. SpringerBriefs in Environment, Security, Development and Peace(), vol 28. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-41752-3_1

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