Rurally rooted cross-border migrant workers from Myanmar, Covid-19, and agrarian movements

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Abstract

This paper examines the situation of rurally rooted cross-border migrant workers from Myanmar during the Covid-19 pandemic. It looks at the circumstances of the migrants prior to the global health emergency, before exploring possibilities for a post-pandemic future for this stratum of the working people by raising critical questions addressed to agrarian movements. It does this by focusing on the nature and dynamics of the nexus of land and labour in the context of production and social reproduction, a view that in the context of rurally rooted cross-border migrant workers necessarily requires interrelated perspectives on labour, agrarian, and food justice struggles. This requires a rethinking of the role of land, not as a factor in either production or social reproduction, but as a central component in both spheres simultaneously. The question is not ‘whether’ it is necessary and desirable to forge multi-class coalitions and struggles against external capital, while not losing sight of the exploitative relations within rural communities and the household; rather, the question is ‘how’ to achieve this. It will require a messy recursive process, going back and forth between theoretical exploration and practical politics.

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Slum Health: Arresting COVID-19 and Improving Well-Being in Urban Informal Settlements

Jason Corburn, David Vlahov, Blessing Mberu … (2020)

The informal settlements of the Global South are the least prepared for the pandemic of COVID-19 since basic needs such as water, toilets, sewers, drainage, waste collection, and secure and adequate housing are already in short supply or non-existent. Further, space constraints, violence, and overcrowding in slums make physical distancing and self-quarantine impractical, and the rapid spread of an infection highly likely. Residents of informal settlements are also economically vulnerable during any COVID-19 responses. Any responses to COVID-19 that do not recognize these realities will further jeopardize the survival of large segments of the urban population globally. Most top-down strategies to arrest an infectious disease will likely ignore the often-robust social groups and knowledge that already exist in many slums. Here, we offer a set of practice and policy suggestions that aim to (1) dampen the spread of COVID-19 based on the latest available science, (2) improve the likelihood of medical care for the urban poor whether or not they get infected, and (3) provide economic, social, and physical improvements and protections to the urban poor, including migrants, slum communities, and their residents, that can improve their long-term well-being. Immediate measures to protect residents of urban informal settlements, the homeless, those living in precarious settlements, and the entire population from COVID-19 include the following: (1) institute informal settlements/slum emergency planning committees in every urban informal settlement; (2) apply an immediate moratorium on evictions; (3) provide an immediate guarantee of payments to the poor; (4) immediately train and deploy community health workers; (5) immediately meet Sphere Humanitarian standards for water, sanitation, and hygiene; (6) provide immediate food assistance; (7) develop and implement a solid waste collection strategy; and (8) implement immediately a plan for mobility and health care. Lessons have been learned from earlier pandemics such as HIV and epidemics such as Ebola. They can be applied here. At the same time, the opportunity exists for public health, public administration, international aid, NGOs, and community groups to innovate beyond disaster response and move toward long-term plans.

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Food crises, food regimes and food movements: rumblings of reform or tides of transformation?

Eric Holt-Giménez, Annie Shattuck (2011)

This article addresses the potential for food movements to bring about substantive changes to the current global food system. After describing the current corporate food regime, we apply Karl Polanyi's 'double-movement' thesis on capitalism to explain the regime's trends of neoliberalism and reform. Using the global food crisis as a point of departure, we introduce a comparative analytical framework for different political and social trends within the corporate food regime and global food movements, characterizing them as 'Neoliberal', 'Reformist', 'Progressive', and 'Radical', respectively, and describe each trend based on its discourse, model, and key actors, approach to the food crisis, and key documents. After a discussion of class, political permeability, and tensions within the food movements, we suggest that the current food crisis offers opportunities for strategic alliances between Progressive and Radical trends within the food movement. We conclude that while the food crisis has brought a retrenchment of neoliberalization and weak calls for reform, the worldwide growth of food movements directly and indirectly challenge the legitimacy and hegemony of the corporate food regime. Regime change will require sustained pressure from a strong global food movement, built on durable alliances between Progressive and Radical trends.

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La Vía Campesina: the birth and evolution of a transnational social movement

Peter M. Rosset, María Martínez-Torres (2010)

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Author and article information

Contributors

Saturnino M. Borras Jr.: borras@iss.nl

Bio :

Saturnino M. Borras

is professor of agrarian studies at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) of Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Hague, Netherlands, Adjunct Professor at the College of Humanities and Development Studies (COHD) of China Agricultural University, Beijing, and Fellow of the Transnational Institute (TNI).

Jennifer C. Franco: jennycfranco@tni.org

Bio :

Jennifer C. Franco

is a research associate in the Agrarian and Environmental Justice and the Myanmar in Focus programmes of the Transnational Institute (TNI). She focuses on rural politics and agrarian justice movements in broader democratisation processes. She has been involved with Myanmar since 2012.

Doi Ra: ra@iss.nl

Bio :

Doi Ra

is a Ph.D. researcher in the ‘Commodity & Land Rushes and Regimes: Reshaping Five Spheres of Global Social Life’ (RRUSHES-5) project, funded by the European Research Council (ERC), at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS). She is originally from Kachin State in Myanmar and is coordinator of investment policy work in the Myanmar in Focus programme of TNI.

Tom Kramer: tkramer@tni.org

Bio :

Tom Kramer

is a political scientist and researcher with 25-years of experience working on Myanmar and its borderlands. He is the coordinator of the Myanmar in Focus programme of TNI, and has written several articles and reports on Myanmar, including on ethnic conflict, the right to land and the regional drug market.

Mi Kamoon: mi.kamoon@tni.org

Bio :

Mi Kamoon

is a researcher with the Myanmar in Focus programme of TNI. Mi Kamoon grew up in a village in Mon State in Myanmar, and has been working on community development and the right to land for ethnic nationality peoples since 2006. She has carried out research on customary tenure in many parts of Myanmar.

Phwe Phyu: phwe.phyu.the@tni.org

Bio :

Phwe Phyu

works with the Myanmar in Focus programme of TNI. She supports research and documentation of issues on right to land, internal displaced populations and refugees, alternative development and drug policy.

Khu Khu Ju: khukhuju@tni.org

Bio :

Khu Khu Ju

is a researcher with the Myanmar in Focus programme of TNI. Her work focuses on ethnic conflict and rights to land and natural resources, and she has carried out research in various parts of Myanmar. Khu Khu Ju has co-authored a report ‘Meaning of Land in Myanmar’ published by the Transnational Institute.

Pietje Vervest: pietje.vervest@tni.org

Bio :

Pietje Vervest

is an economic anthropologist specialising in the European Union’s trade and investment agenda and in the international investment regime. She coordinates the Economic Justice Programme and works with the Myanmar in Focus programme of TNI. She has been involved with Myanmar since 1990.

Mary Oo: marry777111@gmail.com

Bio :

Mary Oo

works for the civil society organization Justice Society in Northern Shan State, Myanmar. She is an activist and advocate for community empowerment, ethnic land rights and human rights.

Kyar Yin Shell: kyaryinshell@gmail.com

Bio :

Kyar Yin Shell

is a founder and coordinator of the Lahu Development Network in Eastern Shan State, Myanmar. He advocates for Lahu ethnic minority rights (including land rights) and for active political participation of Lahu youth, and undertakes research in support of smallholder opium farmers.

Thu Maung Soe: hq.project1@metta-myanmar.org

Bio :

Thu Maung Soe

works for the Metta Social Development Organization in Yangon, Myanmar. He is involved in research and documentation on the issues of land conflict, food sovereignty and community development.

Ze Dau: lso.project@metta-myanmar.org

Bio :

Ze Dau

works for the Metta Social Development Organization in Lashio, Myanmar. He works on issues of ethnic right to land, food sovereignty, and migration, and is involved in community-based research and documentation.

Mi Phyu: merlarmon@gmail.com

Bio :

Mi Phyu

works for the Mon Area Community Development Organization in Mon State, Myanmar. She works on issues of and provides support for rural communities in relation to development, livelihoods, land rights and anti-drug awareness raising.

Mi Saryar Poine: saryarpoine09@gmail.com

Bio :

Mi Saryar Poine

works as programme coordinator for the Mon Women’s Organization in Mon State, Myanmar. She is an active advocate of young women’s participation and representation in political parties.

Mi Pakao Jumper: mipakaojumper@gmail.com

Bio :

Mi Pakao Jumper

works for the Mon Youth Progressive Organization in Mon State, Myanmar. Her work focuses on empowering future leaders, building a strong community, preserving Mon literature and culture, and creating unity among Mon youth. She actively works for rural women’s empowerment.

Nai Sawor Mon: sawormon@gmail.com

Bio :

Nai Sawor Mon

works with the Mon Region Land Policy Affairs Committee in Mon State, Myanmar, to document, research and develop a Mon Region land policy. He is a land/fishery activist, ethnic rights activist and raises human rights issues in relation to investment projects.

Khun Oo: khunoo007@gmail.com

Bio :

Khun Oo

is chairperson of the Pa-O Youth Organization in Southern Shan State, Myanmar, and has been actively involved in calling attention to human rights violations in relation to investment projects and land grabbing. He also coordinates programs on alternative development for smallholder opium farmers.

Kyaw Thu: kthu@paungkumyanmar.org

Bio :

Kyaw Thu

is executive director of the civil society organization Paung Ku based in Yangon, Myanmar. He is a prominent civil society leader, relentlessly promoting human rights, peace, right to land, and civil society empowerment in the country.

Nwet Kay Khine: nwekay.khine@gmail.com

Bio :

Dr. Nwet Kay Khine

is a post-doctoral fellow at the Center for Social Development Studies, Faculty of Political Science of Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. She is also an editor of Chindwin magazine, writing literature and fiction articles under the pen name called “Me’ Mway”.

Tun Tun Naing: ttnaing@paungkumyanmar.org

Bio :

Tun Tun Naing

works for the civil society organization Paung Ku in Mandalay Region, Myanmar. He supports civil society organizations in grant management and works to support their efforts towards achieving social justice.

Nila Papa: nlpapa@paungkumyanmar.org

Bio :

Nila Papa

works for the civil society organization Paung Ku in Mandalay Region, Myanmar. She supports civil society organizations in grant management and works to support their efforts towards achieving social justice.

Lway Htwe Htwe: tsyu.taangyouth@gmail.com

Bio :

Lway Htwe Htwe

works for the Ta’ang Students and Youth Organization in Northern Shan State, Myanmar. Her work focuses on preserving the environment and natural resources in the Ta’ang region, and on promoting the capacity of Ta’ang students and youth.

Lway Hlar Reang: tsyu.taangyouth@gmail.com

Bio :

Lway Hlar Reang

Lway Poe Jay: waypoejay.tsyu@gmail.com

Bio :

Lway Poe Jay

Naw Seng Jai: nawsengjai@gmail.com

Bio :

Naw Seng Jai

works with the Tai Youth Network in Northern Shan State, Myanmar. His work focuses on promoting ethnic rights particularly of Shan youth and representing their voices in political dialogues. He also helps to raise awareness on safe migration and land rights in conflict-affected areas.

Yunan Xu: yunan@iss.nl

Bio :

Yunan Xu

is a post-doctoral researcher at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) of Erasmus University Rotterdam, The Hague, Netherlands, working on the European Research Council Advanced Grant funded research on land and commodity rushes and spheres of social life.

Chunyu Wang:

Bio :

Chunyu Wang

is an associate professor of the College of Humanities and Development Studies (COHD) of China Agricultural University, Beijing. Her research interests incoude rural left-behing population, agrarian change and land politics.

Jingzhong Ye:

Bio :

Jingzhong Ye

is a Professor and Dean at the College of Humanities and Development Studies (COHD) of China Agricultural University, Beijing. His research interests include development and agrarian studies, rural–urban migration and the left-behind population.

Journal

Journal ID (nlm-ta): Agric Human Values

Journal ID (iso-abbrev): Agric Human Values

Title: Agriculture and Human Values

Publisher: Springer Netherlands (Dordrecht )

ISSN (Print): 0889-048X

ISSN (Electronic): 1572-8366

Publication date (Electronic): 3 September 2021

Publication date PMC-release: 3 September 2021

Pages: 1-24

Affiliations

[1 ]GRID grid.6906.9, ISNI 0000000092621349, International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) of Erasmus University Rotterdam, ; Korternaerkade 12, 2518 AX The Hague, The Netherlands

[2 ]Transnational Institute (TNI), De Wittenstraat 25, 1052 AK Amsterdam, The Netherlands

[3 ]Justice Society, Northern Shan State, Myanmar

[4 ]Lahu Development Network, Eastern Shan State, Myanmar

[5 ]GRID grid.501933.d, Metta Development Foundation, ; Pegu, Myanmar

[6 ]Mon Area Community Development Organization, Mon State, Myanmar

[7 ]Mon Women Organization, Mon State, Myanmar

[8 ]Mon Youth Progressive Organization, Mon State, Myanmar

[9 ]Mon Region Land Policy Affair Committee, Mon State, Myanmar

[10 ]Pa-O Youth Organization, Southern Shan State, Myanmar

[11 ]Paung Ku, Yangon, Myanmar

[12 ]Ta’ang Students and Youth Organization, Northern Shan State, Myanmar

[13 ]Tai Youth Network, Northern Shan State, Myanmar

[14 ]GRID grid.22935.3f, ISNI 0000 0004 0530 8290, College of Humanities and Development Studies (COHD) of China Agricultural University, ; No. 2 West Yuanmingyuan Road, Haidan District, Beijing, 100193 People’s Republic of China

Article

Publisher ID: 10262

DOI: 10.1007/s10460-021-10262-6

PMC ID: 8415701

PubMed ID: 34511717

SO-VID: c42ce297-c03a-480b-ba35-1a20df038fc1

License:

Open AccessThis article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.

History

Date accepted : 10 July 2021

Funding

Funded by: FundRef http://dx.doi.org/10.13039/100010663, H2020 European Research Council;

Rurally rooted cross-border migrant workers from Myanmar, Covid-19, and agrarian movements

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Abstract

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Novel Coronavirus Disease COVID-19

Most cited references 54

Slum Health: Arresting COVID-19 and Improving Well-Being in Urban Informal Settlements

Food crises, food regimes and food movements: rumblings of reform or tides of transformation?

La Vía Campesina: the birth and evolution of a transnational social movement

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