Human Security Strategies Among Illegal Shan Migrants in Chiang Mai

Abstract

The modern notion of borders has transformed the meaning of mobility and migration to a great extent. The lived experiences of migrants in dealing with foreign state bureaucracies to attain the legality of their existence are rather complex. Thailand’s changing immigration policies, which are primarily driven by economic and political circumstances within the state as well as cross-border and inter-state relations with Myanmar, impose more difficulties on migrants to take formal and legal paths to ensure their well-being in Thailand. This study delves into the strategies employed by irregular Shan migrants to access human security in Thailand. Departing from the conventional refugee-labour migrant, this research will consider the irregular migrants of Shan ethnicity from Myanmar under one rubric to reflect the complexity of empirical reality. The primary objectives of this study are to describe the lived experiences of undocumented Shan migrants regarding their access to human security, to explore the practical strategies they employ in their daily lives to access human security, and to analyze the nexus between legality and human security among this population in Thailand. Through ethnographic fieldwork and life-story interviews with irregular Shan migrants in Chiang Mai, this study argues that community and collectivism act as a crucial social safety net when lacking documentation renders individuals vulnerable and fosters antagonistic relations with the state. The role of these social networks is especially significant in safeguarding livelihoods in the early years of arrival in Thailand within the challenging context of undocumented status. In addition to the community and collective social capital, the informal brokers also play a significant role for the irregular Shan migrants to negotiate and navigate within the legal structure in the absence of proper legal documents for their stay in Thailand. In the later years, however, the irregular Shan migrants will rely on their accumulated knowledge and resources and attempt to pursue sustainable human security strategies – education and legality. The findings underscore the uncertainties and insecurities of irregular Shan migrants in their everyday lives in Thailand, and how their immediate and long-term strategies enable them to access a life of security and dignity.