Sovereignty, Capitalization, and Uncertainty: Global Political Economy from t he Vantage Points of Four SEA and GMS Borderlands

2020 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 20H04422
• Research Institution: Kyoto University
• Principal Investigator: Tangseefa Decha 京都大学, 東南アジア地域研究研究所, 准教授 (00867749)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 石川 登 京都大学, 東南アジア地域研究研究所, 教授 (50273503) ; 花 暁波 京都大学, 東南アジア地域研究研究所, 研究員 (70850585)
• Project Period (FY): 2020-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: sovereignty / border / capitalization / uncertainty

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

Since July 2022, when researchers from Japan were allowed to leave the country to conduct fieldwork, the two members of our team have separately conducted our own fieldwork in our field sites: one along the Thailand-Myanmar border region, the other along the Malaysia-Indonesia border region. Moreover, each of us has also continued reviewing literature, especially on his own focused border, hence enabling both of us to continue being reflexive about our research.

As for Decha Tangseefa, the knowledge that he has gained from this research, thus far, has also enabled him to contribute, as a co-editor (with Dr. Yos Santasombat and Dr. Kian Cheng Lee), to a volume tentatively entitled, “BRI In Southeast Asia: Concepts and Methodologies”, the manuscript of which was already submitted (toward the end of April) to CSEAS's Publication Committee, Kyoto University.

Current Status of Research Progress

3: Progress in research has been slightly delayed.

Reason

There have been at least 2 key situations happening that have disabled our team to SMOOTHLY conduct our field research, both separately and as a team.

a) China had not allowed foreigners to enter the country until Jan. 8, 2023.
b) The violent situations in Burma/Myanmar since the coup on Feb. 1, 2021.

Other than these, each member of the team has attempted to continue conducting his field research whenever it has been possible; and we have been able to make quite a few trips since July 2022.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

Our upcoming plan is for each to separately continue his field research in his field site. Moreover, during July 24-31, 2023, the team will conduct fieldwork along the China-Myanmar border region; and, during Aug. 20-29, 2023, the team will conduct fieldwork along the Malaysia-Indonesia border region. After these two trips, the team will gradually develop the first draft of the research report. Lastly, the team will continue refining its analysis, and gradually develop a couple of papers to be presented in some academic conferences or gatherings in due course.