Rurally rooted cross-border migrant workers from Myanmar, Covid-19, and agrarian movements

Saturnino M. Borras (), Jennifer C. Franco (), Doi Ra (), Tom Kramer (), Mi Kamoon (), Phwe Phyu (), Khu Khu Ju (), Pietje Vervest (), Mary Oo (), Kyar Yin Shell (), Thu Maung Soe (), Ze Dau (), Mi Phyu (), Mi Saryar Poine (), Mi Pakao Jumper (), Nai Sawor Mon (), Khun Oo (), Kyaw Thu (), Nwet Kay Khine (), Tun Tun Naing (), Nila Papa (), Lway Htwe Htwe (), Lway Hlar Reang (), Lway Poe Jay (), Naw Seng Jai (), Yunan Xu (), Chunyu Wang and Jingzhong Ye
Additional contact information
Saturnino M. Borras: International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) of Erasmus University Rotterdam
Jennifer C. Franco: Transnational Institute (TNI)
Doi Ra: International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) of Erasmus University Rotterdam
Tom Kramer: Transnational Institute (TNI)
Mi Kamoon: Transnational Institute (TNI)
Phwe Phyu: Transnational Institute (TNI)
Khu Khu Ju: Transnational Institute (TNI)
Pietje Vervest: Transnational Institute (TNI)
Mary Oo: Justice Society
Kyar Yin Shell: Lahu Development Network
Thu Maung Soe: Metta Development Foundation
Ze Dau: Metta Development Foundation
Mi Phyu: Mon Area Community Development Organization
Mi Saryar Poine: Mon Women Organization
Mi Pakao Jumper: Mon Youth Progressive Organization
Nai Sawor Mon: Mon Region Land Policy Affair Committee
Khun Oo: Pa-O Youth Organization
Kyaw Thu: Paung Ku
Nwet Kay Khine: Paung Ku
Tun Tun Naing: Paung Ku
Nila Papa: Paung Ku
Lway Htwe Htwe: Ta’ang Students and Youth Organization
Lway Hlar Reang: Ta’ang Students and Youth Organization
Lway Poe Jay: Ta’ang Students and Youth Organization
Naw Seng Jai: Tai Youth Network
Yunan Xu: International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) of Erasmus University Rotterdam
Chunyu Wang: College of Humanities and Development Studies (COHD) of China Agricultural University
Jingzhong Ye: College of Humanities and Development Studies (COHD) of China Agricultural University

Agriculture and Human Values, 2022, vol. 39, issue 1, No 21, 315-338

Abstract: Abstract This paper examines the situation of rurally rooted cross-border migrant workers from Myanmar during the Covid-19 pandemic. It looks at the circumstances of the migrants prior to the global health emergency, before exploring possibilities for a post-pandemic future for this stratum of the working people by raising critical questions addressed to agrarian movements. It does this by focusing on the nature and dynamics of the nexus of land and labour in the context of production and social reproduction, a view that in the context of rurally rooted cross-border migrant workers necessarily requires interrelated perspectives on labour, agrarian, and food justice struggles. This requires a rethinking of the role of land, not as a factor in either production or social reproduction, but as a central component in both spheres simultaneously. The question is not ‘whether’ it is necessary and desirable to forge multi-class coalitions and struggles against external capital, while not losing sight of the exploitative relations within rural communities and the household; rather, the question is ‘how’ to achieve this. It will require a messy recursive process, going back and forth between theoretical exploration and practical politics.

Keywords: Migrant workers; Farmworkers; Covid-19 pandemic; Myanmar; Food sovereignty (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations:

Downloads: (external link)
http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s10460-021-10262-6 Abstract (text/html)
Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:agrhuv:v:39:y:2022:i:1:d:10.1007_s10460-021-10262-6

Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from
http://www.springer.com/economics/journal/10460

DOI: 10.1007/s10460-021-10262-6

Access Statistics for this article

Agriculture and Human Values is currently edited by Harvey S. James Jr.

More articles in Agriculture and Human Values from Springer, The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS)
Bibliographic data for series maintained by Sonal Shukla () and Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing ().