The politics of agrarian transformations in Myanmar is a research and training initiative based at the International Institute of Social Studies (ISS) of Erasmus University Rotterdam in the Netherlands and Chiang Mai University in Thailand.
It formally started in January 2025. It aims to study the politics of agrarian transformations and their broader implications for society in Myanmar by looking into the dynamics of social relations around land access and control and how they shape and are shaped by broader spheres of social life.
Therefore, the research covers wide-ranging themes, including agrarian relations, labour, migrant farmworkers, mining, fisheries, food politics and food sovereignty, climate change, geopolitics, governance and democratization, resistance and political struggles, war and peace.
The Initiative is located in and supported by the European Research Council Advanced Grant Project RRUSHES-5 (Proect Number 834006) and the Erasmus Chairs programme for positive societal impact of Erasmus University Rotterdam under the initiative, ‘Democratizing Knowledge Politics’.
The Initiative is within the tradition of scholar- activism. It involves 5 PhD researchers, 3 postdoctoral fellows, 1 research associate – at least in its inception – all from Myanmar and is coordinated by Jun Borras.
The Initiative has origins in an earlier research project in Myanmar funded by NWO (Mosaic research project, 2014-2018) in collaboration with Chiang Mai University led by professors Jun Borras and Chayan Vaddhanaphuti, and in the ‘Activist Course for Activists’ program by the Transnational Institute (TNI), Paung Ku, Metta Development Foundation and KESAN.
In addition to the critical support by each team member’s organization, the initiative receives support from RRUSHES-5, Erasmus Chairs programme for positive societal impact at ISS of Erasmus University Rotterdam, Chiang Mai University, International Network of Engaged Buddhists (INEB), Danish Institute for International Studies (DIIS) and others.
Members of the Myanmar Initiative Collective
- Sai Sam Kham
- Gum Sha Aung
- Pwe Yu Mon
- Yin Nyein
- Myat Thet Thitsar
- Pa Pa Phyo
- Myint Zaw
- Paul Sein Twa
- Nwet Kay Khine
- Doi Ra
- Jun Borras
- Tsegaye Moreda
Researchers' profiles
Download the document to read more about the Myanmar Initiative Collective researchers
Funding
This project has received funding from the European Research Council (ERC) under the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation programme (grant agreement No 834006).
