Documenting Myanmar's Social Transformation : Insights from Six Rounds of Research on Livelihoods and Social Change in Rural Communities

Pursch, Samuel ; Woodhouse, Andrea ; Woolcock, Michael ; Zurstrassen, Matthew

World Bank, Washington, DC

关键词: GLOBALIZATION;    SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION;    LIVELIHOODS;    SOCIAL CHANGE;    RURAL COMMUNITIES;   

DOI  :  10.1596/1813-9450-8055
RP-ID  :  WPS8055

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: World Bank Open Knowledge Repository

【 摘 要 】

This paper presents the initial findingsfrom six rounds of research conducted between 2012 and 2016on livelihoods and social change in rural Myanmar,undertaken as part of the Qualitative Social and EconomicMonitoring initiative. These data provide unique insightsinto the ways in which broad processes of democratizationand globalization -- put into effect followingMyanmar's historic reforms beginning in 2011 -- areexperienced at the village level. The analysis focuses onthree key aspects of the "social contract": localgovernance mechanisms, shifting expectations of the state,and changes in the types of networks connecting villagers toregional and global markets. Remarkable social progress hasbeen made in Myanmar since 2012, yet there are no groundsfor complacency. Managing ongoing transformations in thesethree domains, in ways perceived to be locally legitimateand effective, will be crucial if the initial gains are tobe consolidated and expanded.