The immobility paradox in Thailand’s southern border provinces (original) (raw)
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Migration and Unrest in the Deep South Thailand: A Multilevel Analysis of a Longitudinal Study
Demography, 2020
Although migration of Muslims from the southernmost provinces of Thailand to Malaysia has a long history, research suggests that the intensity of this migration has increased in the past 10 years along with increased unrest in the provinces. This study examines how migration in the three southernmost provinces is affected by the ongoing unrest. Data are drawn from household probability surveys conducted in 2014 and 2016. An individual sample of 3,467 persons who were household residents at the 2014 survey was followed to see who remained in the household of origin or moved out two years later (2016 survey). Data on violent events from the Deep South Watch, an independent organization, were used to measure exposure to violence. Results from a multilevel analysis show that net of other characteristics at the individual, household, and village levels, individuals who live in a village in which a violent event occurred in the previous year are more likely to move out than those who live...
How does unrest affect migration? Evidence from the three southernmost provinces of Thailand
Demographic Research, 2017
BACKGROUND In the southernmost provinces of Thailand, despite the long-term unrest concurrent with migration, very limited research tackles the relationship between these two phenomena. OBJECTIVE This analysis examines whether migration in the three southernmost provinces is associated with the ongoing unrest. METHODS We use a sample of 1,009 households from a household probability survey conducted in the three southernmost provinces in 2014. The analysis uses two measures of migration: all migration and destination-specific migration. The unrest is measured as 1) whether a violent incident occurred in the village in the most recent year and 2) the perceived effect of the unrest on the overall life of the household. RESULTS Households in villages where a violent incidence occurred in the past year and households that reported that the unrest affected overall life a lot are more likely to have a migrant. These effects are direct, net of other household and social network characteristics. The unrest is related to increased migration both within Thailand and to Malaysia. This result is stronger for migration to Malaysia compared to migration within Thailand. The destination of migrants is related to education.
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Rural-to-urban migration is a common occurrence in Northeastern Thailand, the region also known as “Isan.” Isan rural villagers, after finishing the rice harvest, regularly migrate to urban areas in Thailand or overseas to seek jobs and additional sources of income. Seasonal migration is a common strategy used by Isan young women to make a living. When they reach middle age, however, women migrants often choose to return to their homes in rural villages to live with their families. This paper examines the experiences of ten Isan rural-to-urban female migrants. These women present their experiences of migration and explain the effects of migration on their identities, values, worldviews and gender roles. They finished primary school and were single and young when they first migrated to urban areas to be factory workers. However, after they had children and reached middle age, most decided to return home to rural areas where they made a living. Therefore, rural-to-urban migration is a...
Rural-to-urban migration is a common occurrence in Northeastern Thailand, the region also known as "Isan." Isan rural villagers, after finishing the rice harvest, regularly migrate to urban areas in Thailand or overseas to seek jobs and additional sources of income. Seasonal migration is a common strategy used by Isan young women to make a living. When they reach middle age, however, women migrants often choose to return to their homes in rural villages to live with their families. This paper examines the experiences of ten Isan rural-to-urban female migrants. These women present their experiences of migration and explain the effects of migration on their identities, values, worldviews and gender roles. They finished primary school and were single and young when they first migrated to urban areas to be factory workers. However, after they had children and reached middle age, most decided to return home to rural areas where they made a living. Therefore, rural-to-urban migration is a livelihood strategy adopted by young Isan women to seek better lives. Because factory workers earn higher incomes than those working in agriculture, woman migrants can send remittances to their families in rural areas which can be used to renovate houses and buy additional pieces of land as well as daily life necessities. Therefore, rural-to-urban migrations allow these women to fulfill their gender roles as dutiful daughters, good wives and responsible mothers in accordance with social expectations of women's gender roles in traditional society. Moreover, rural-to-urban migration allows these migrants to have cosmopolitan experiences and develop new skills. After having learned how to manage their capital, time, knowledge and social networks, they 1 This paper is based on the research on "Livelihood strategies of return woman migrants from Northeastern Thailand." I wish to express my gratitude to the Faculty of Liberal Arts, Ubon Ratchathani University, for providing me with a grant to carry out this research.
Migrations beyond Economic Motivations: A Study on Shan State
This study aims to explore the motivations of the migration beyond economic motivations on a study of Shan State. This study proved the neoclassical economic theory for migration and strongly indicated that there may be other motivations to migration. Interview cases and particular demographic detail for each 41 Shan migrants who are working in Thailand were conducted. The results indicated that emigration data from Shan state to Thailand after the responsibility of migration that was taken by the Ministry of Labor, Myanmar from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs at 2010. When compared the data from 2011 to 2013 (April), emigration data seems lower. Among the emigration, it was found that female migrants are lower than male migrants. In the case of Shan state, the wage differences between Thailand and Myanmar, Shan State is the big motivations to migrations. Moreover, ethnic conflict between the Government army and the armed ethnic groups greatly impact on migration to Thailand. Reason of education for migration is low but most of the Shan migrants are low in education. To reduce the migration, it needs to fill the gaps that can motivate to migration.
Journal of Ethnic and Migration Studies, 2019
Migration from Cambodia is a major livelihood strategy for rural communities, with most rural families having at least one, usually younger, member migrating in search of work. The pervasive nature of this phenomenon relates to Cambodia's troubled political past, and the country's political economy that structures choice and opportunity. Under-investment in the agrarian economy together with unequal access to credit and productive resources leaves many rural Cambodians with little option but to migrate to boost family income. Thailand is the number one destination for rural Cambodians. Most have an undocumented status, putting them at risk of arrest and deportation. The return of more than 200,000 migrants to Cambodia over a two-week period in 2014 was precipitated by the Thai military's seizure of power and migrants' fear of the consequences of political instability, given their still vivid historical memory of the Cambodian Khmer Rouge's reign of terror during the 1970s. Interviews with Cambodian migrants and members of their families are examined within a wider political and economic context to gain insight into migrants' motivations and decisionmaking. The expulsion of migrants from Thailand casts light on the compulsive nature of migration, despite the high risks and precarious conditions under which undocumented migration takes place.