Development Zones in Conflict-Affected Borderlands: The Case of Muse, Northern Shan State, Myanmar

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Main author: Meehan, Patrick
Other authors: Aung Hla, Sai
Kham Phu, Sai
Format: Book Chapters           
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id eprints-34537
recordtype eprints
institution SOAS, University of London
collection SOAS Research Online
language English
language_search English
description How are development zones “made” in conflict-affected borderlands? Addressing this question, this chapter explores the transformation of the Myanmar-China border town of Muse since 1988. Despite ongoing armed conflict in northern Myanmar, Muse has become the country’s most important border development zone and today handles more than 80% of licit overland Myanmar-China trade. It is also a key border hub in China’s Belt and Road Initiative. Policy narratives typically claim that borderland development and regional economic integration offer an antidote to violence, criminality, and illegal practices. This chapter challenges these narratives. It demonstrates how long-standing forms of informal public authority and illegality have become deeply embedded in the technologies of governance that have underpinned Muse’s rise.
author_additional Chettri, Mona
author_additionalStr Chettri, Mona
format Book Chapters
author Meehan, Patrick
author_facet Meehan, Patrick
Aung Hla, Sai
Kham Phu, Sai
authorStr Meehan, Patrick
author_letter Meehan, Patrick
author2 Aung Hla, Sai
Kham Phu, Sai
author2Str Aung Hla, Sai
Kham Phu, Sai
title Development Zones in Conflict-Affected Borderlands: The Case of Muse, Northern Shan State, Myanmar
publisher Amsterdam University Press
publishDate 2021
url https://eprints.soas.ac.uk/34537/

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