Ardeth Maung Thawnghmung (University of Massachusetts Lowell), “Food Insecurity, Conflict, and Violence in Post-Coup Myanmar” (Council on Southeast Asia Studies)

 

This talk will focus on several research projects I have been conducting since the military staged a coup in February 2021. The first project examines evolving socio-political situations that affect access to food and livelihood opportunities for Myanmar citizens from across various parts of the country. The second project looks at the role of local village/ward administrative authorities and the extent to which they help mitigate or escalate violence in local communities. The third project looks at variation in the nature and intensity of violence across the country, and how individuals and communities cope with violence and various kinds of insecurity. My talk will cover research findings, research methods, and highlight some ethical dilemmas and challenges involved in doing research in a war-torn, repressive, and highly polarized country.

 

Ardeth Maung Thawnghmung is Professor of Political Science Department at University of Massachusetts Lowell.  She received her Master’s degree in International Relations from Yale University in 1995, and Ph.D in Political Science at the University of Wisconsin, Madison in 2001. Her areas of specialization are on Myanmar/Southeast Asian politics, ethnic politics, and political economy. She has written numerous books and articles on ethnic politics and political economy in Myanmar, including her most recent co-authored book with Jacques Bertrand and Alex Pelletier on Winning by Process: The State and Neutralization of Ethnic Minorities in Myanmar (Cornell University Press, 2022) and her single-authored book Everyday Economic Survival in Myanmar (University of Wisconsin Press, 2019). Ardeth served as Political Science Department Chair from 2013 to 2021, interim Director for Peace and Conflict Studies Program in 2020-21 academic year. She has received fellowships and research grants from International Peace Research Association Foundation (2021-2022), Fulbright Public Policy Fellow (2020-2021), Fulbright-Hays Faculty Research Abroad (2010-2011), Asian Research Institute at the National University of Singapore, East West Center Washington DC, and Southeast Asian Institute Singapore. She is also a recipient of 2007 Outstanding Teacher of College of Arts and Humanities at UMass Lowell.

 

Room 203, Luce Hall

34 Hillhouse Avenue