A Road to Peace? A case study of an Asian Development Bank financed road improvement project through contested territories in Myanmar
(2017) MIDM19 20171Department 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:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/8906984
- author
- Lybecker Andersen, Lea LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- MIDM19 20171
- year
- 2017
- 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}}, }