Displacement, Humanitarianism and Burma: A Permanent Crisis?

Compared to other states in the region that have seen internal armed conflict and large-scale refugee movements, whether across international borders or not, Burma has proved remarkably resistant to changes allowing for peace and return. In the aftermath of the recent crackdown on peaceful processions of thousands of monks in their saffron robes, much public commentary and debate focused on the excesses of authoritarian rule in Burma/Myanmar and the wider role of the international community vis-a-vis the military regime. By contrast, this workshop redirected attention to the dynamics of displacement and humanitarianism in the context of what may be termed a 'permanent crisis' in Burma.

This workshop brought together academics, practitioners and other concerned parties to encourage informed debate and exchange. The morning session focused on International Politics, the UN and Humanitarianism, with papers prepared by Dr Peter Carey (Oxford), Jean-Francois Durieux (Oxford), David Mathieson (Human Rights Watch) and Professor Mark Duffield (Bristol). The afternoon session turned to Displacement and the Challenges of Humanitarian Assistance, with presentations by Duncan McArthur (TBBC), Ashley South (ANU), Richard Horsey (Consultant) and Chris Lewa (Arakan Project).

Outputs

• Publications / FMR 30: Burma's displaced people
• Publications / Burma: the changing nature of displacement crises