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Myanmar's Hidden-in-plain-sight social infrastructure : Nalehmu through multiple ruptures

Roberts, Jayde and Rhoads, Elizabeth LU (2022) In Critical Asian Studies 54(1). p.1-21
Abstract
This article examines nalehmu, a set of informal relational practices for negotiating power across scales which have facilitated access and enforced accountability through mutually recognized norms and social sanctions in Myanmar. Like Asef Bayat’s “quiet encroachment” in the Middle East, nalehmu is Myanmar’s discreet and prolonged practice of agency that has enabled ordinary people to survive and better their lives despite the multiple ruptures in Myanmar’s history, as seen most recently in the February 2021 coup d’état. The paper analyzes how nalehmu serves as a hidden-in-plain-sight social infrastructure across three different scales: relations of mutuality, obligation, and reciprocity between individuals; implicit connections for... (More)
This article examines nalehmu, a set of informal relational practices for negotiating power across scales which have facilitated access and enforced accountability through mutually recognized norms and social sanctions in Myanmar. Like Asef Bayat’s “quiet encroachment” in the Middle East, nalehmu is Myanmar’s discreet and prolonged practice of agency that has enabled ordinary people to survive and better their lives despite the multiple ruptures in Myanmar’s history, as seen most recently in the February 2021 coup d’état. The paper analyzes how nalehmu serves as a hidden-in-plain-sight social infrastructure across three different scales: relations of mutuality, obligation, and reciprocity between individuals; implicit connections for accessing goods, services, and recognition; and a means of interacting with the state via the nalehmu economy. This analysis seeks to do more than add a different case to studies of urban Southeast Asia, but also to help produce further theorization that takes seriously the actually existing contexts and practices in the global South. (Less)
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author
and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
social infrastructure, relationality, mutuality, reciprocity, accountability, quiet encroachment
in
Critical Asian Studies
volume
54
issue
1
pages
1 - 21
publisher
Routledge
external identifiers
  • scopus:85119861200
ISSN
1467-2715
DOI
10.1080/14672715.2021.2002703
project
Living Heritage as Tool to Prevent Spatial Violence - Yangon Myanmar
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
cb863067-39a7-47b5-b12a-ff2491a6ca59
date added to LUP
2021-09-18 18:54:43
date last changed
2023-01-17 14:28:22
@article{cb863067-39a7-47b5-b12a-ff2491a6ca59,
  abstract     = {{This article examines nalehmu, a set of informal relational practices for negotiating power across scales which have facilitated access and enforced accountability through mutually recognized norms and social sanctions in Myanmar. Like Asef Bayat’s “quiet encroachment” in the Middle East, nalehmu is Myanmar’s discreet and prolonged practice of agency that has enabled ordinary people to survive and better their lives despite the multiple ruptures in Myanmar’s history, as seen most recently in the February 2021 coup d’état. The paper analyzes how nalehmu serves as a hidden-in-plain-sight social infrastructure across three different scales: relations of mutuality, obligation, and reciprocity between individuals; implicit connections for accessing goods, services, and recognition; and a means of interacting with the state via the nalehmu economy. This analysis seeks to do more than add a different case to studies of urban Southeast Asia, but also to help produce further theorization that takes seriously the actually existing contexts and practices in the global South.}},
  author       = {{Roberts, Jayde and Rhoads, Elizabeth}},
  issn         = {{1467-2715}},
  keywords     = {{social infrastructure; relationality; mutuality; reciprocity; accountability; quiet encroachment}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{1--21}},
  publisher    = {{Routledge}},
  series       = {{Critical Asian Studies}},
  title        = {{Myanmar's Hidden-in-plain-sight social infrastructure : Nalehmu through multiple ruptures}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/14672715.2021.2002703}},
  doi          = {{10.1080/14672715.2021.2002703}},
  volume       = {{54}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}