Browsing by Subject "Myanmar"

This study aimed to highlight the agency of displaced people in protracted conflicts and peace processes in the context of Myanmar. Displaced people are often disregarded in decision-making in peace processes despite having the knowledge and vested interests in their contexts of origin. This has also been noted by international actors who have started to pay attention to inclusivity in their project implementations. Regardless of this, peacebuilding initiatives often follow Western norms and thus, can undermine the added value and agency of the subaltern, or displaced people. This study uses critical theory as its framework which scrutinizes the motives and concrete results of peacebuilding initiatives of Western actors. It explored how the Western concept of peace has become the ‘norm’ and therefore, can influence the subaltern thinking of peace and how to achieve it. The study utilized a survey questionnaire which mapped the interests and wishes of the displaced people from Myanmar. One of the objectives of the study was to see whether this type of methodology could be used in more inclusive and participatory peace work. In addition, Myanmar’s history and political background were analyzed together with the survey results. This further contributed to a context sensitive approach which the Western ‘one-fits-for-all’ type of initiatives are often lacking. The results of the study showed that past grievances and norms can influence and guide the understanding of peace. If this type of survey were to be used in the future, the questions could be developed further together with input from the subaltern to achieve a truly participatory approach in the peace processes.