Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

A Road to Peace? A case study of an Asian Development Bank financed road improvement project through contested territories in Myanmar

Lybecker Andersen, Lea LU (2017) MIDM19 20171
Department of Human Geography
LUMID International Master programme in applied International Development and Management
Abstract
This qualitative case study of the ADB-financed Kawakareik to Eindu road improvement project explores the ways in which a single development intervention interferes with local conflict dynamics in an ethnic minority area affected by subnational conflict, in the context of the unfolding peace-process in Myanmar. The main research guiding this research is; In what ways does the ADB financed Kawkareik to Eindu road improvement project interact with conflict dynamics in the project area?
The findings presented problematise ADB’s claim that the project will contribute to building peace, by demonstrating how unique complexities related to historical grievances and internal splits within ethnic Karen communities interfere with the way in which... (More)
This qualitative case study of the ADB-financed Kawakareik to Eindu road improvement project explores the ways in which a single development intervention interferes with local conflict dynamics in an ethnic minority area affected by subnational conflict, in the context of the unfolding peace-process in Myanmar. The main research guiding this research is; In what ways does the ADB financed Kawkareik to Eindu road improvement project interact with conflict dynamics in the project area?
The findings presented problematise ADB’s claim that the project will contribute to building peace, by demonstrating how unique complexities related to historical grievances and internal splits within ethnic Karen communities interfere with the way in which such a project is perceived. While this thesis does not claim to be able to dispute that the project may have some positive effects on the war-to-peace transition, findings also clearly indicate that there is a risk for volatile interactions between the objectives of accelerated economic growth and regional integration, which the road is designed to facilitate, and faith in the peace process amongst some factions of the Karen ethnic group. These findings have implications for the nascent research debate on road construction in conflict environments and the wider field of studies on the link between development interventions and conflict. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Lybecker Andersen, Lea LU
supervisor
organization
course
MIDM19 20171
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
Asian Development Bank, development interventions and conflict, conflict sensitivity, roads, ethnic insurgency, Kayin state, Myanmar
language
English
id
8906984
date added to LUP
2018-03-09 10:29:19
date last changed
2018-03-09 10:29:19
@misc{8906984,
  abstract     = {{This qualitative case study of the ADB-financed Kawakareik to Eindu road improvement project explores the ways in which a single development intervention interferes with local conflict dynamics in an ethnic minority area affected by subnational conflict, in the context of the unfolding peace-process in Myanmar. The main research guiding this research is; In what ways does the ADB financed Kawkareik to Eindu road improvement project interact with conflict dynamics in the project area?
The findings presented problematise ADB’s claim that the project will contribute to building peace, by demonstrating how unique complexities related to historical grievances and internal splits within ethnic Karen communities interfere with the way in which such a project is perceived. While this thesis does not claim to be able to dispute that the project may have some positive effects on the war-to-peace transition, findings also clearly indicate that there is a risk for volatile interactions between the objectives of accelerated economic growth and regional integration, which the road is designed to facilitate, and faith in the peace process amongst some factions of the Karen ethnic group. These findings have implications for the nascent research debate on road construction in conflict environments and the wider field of studies on the link between development interventions and conflict.}},
  author       = {{Lybecker Andersen, Lea}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  title        = {{A Road to Peace? A case study of an Asian Development Bank financed road improvement project through contested territories in Myanmar}},
  year         = {{2017}},
}