File(s) under permanent embargo
Re-examining the centrality of ethnic Identity to the Kachin conflict
chapter
posted on 2016-08-01, 00:00 authored by Costas LaoutidesCostas Laoutides, Anthony WareAnthony WareThis paper seeks to reframe the conventional characterization of Kachin conflict which is anchored in ethnicity. Based on a series of interviews the paper focuses on how power is framed and contested in relation to processes of identification. Identity is defined as the politicised manifestation of ideological underpinnings associated with the distribution and management of political power. Thus the paper draws together field research conducted by the authors in late 2014, with theoretical discussion around key ideas often employed in analysing these conflicts: 'ethnicity', 'national race', 'identity', 'territory' and 'resource' conflict. The paper concludes that 'ethnicity' has become the outward manifestation of a conflict that is actually far more deeply underpinned by issues of political rights and distribution, state power versus decentralisation, the quest for equality and freedom, and the question of who constitute the demos in Myanmar’s democracy.
History
Title of book
Conflict in Myanmar War, Politics, ReligionSeries
Myanmar update seriesChapter number
3Pagination
47 - 66Publisher
ISEAS PublishingPlace of publication
Singapore, MalaysiaISBN-13
9789814695862ISBN-10
9814695866Language
engPublication classification
B1 Book chapter; B Book chapterCopyright notice
2016, ISEAS PublishingExtent
17Editor/Contributor(s)
N Cheesman, N FarrellyUsage metrics
Categories
No categories selectedKeywords
Licence
Exports
RefWorks
BibTeX
Ref. manager
Endnote
DataCite
NLM
DC