The Social, Cultural, Spiritual and Political Meanings of Customary Land Systems for the Karen People in Kawthoolei
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2025-02-10
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nl
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This thesis examines the motivations behind the 2015 revision of the Karen National Union (KNU) Land Policy and why it was possible between 2010 and 2021. Using a qualitative interpretative approach, it draws on semi-structured interviews with Karen ethnic governance organisation (EGO) actors, Myanmar scholars and one KNU official, together with policy document analysis. The research reveals that land has great political, cultural, and spiritual significance for the Karen people. However, decades of land confiscation by the Myanmar military and government—through both violent and legal means and —continued even during Myanmar’s democratic opening (2011). The failure to recognise customary land systems emphasised the need for a formalised local land governance framework. The 2015 revision is motivated by the needs to protect Karen lands, strengthen Karen identity and community, and improve the KNU’s legitimacy as a governing authority. In addition, broader goals such as peacebuilding and self-determination have also contributed to the revision. By examining the intersection of land governance, conflict, and customary and statutory land systems, this study contributes to broader debates on land governance in conflict-affected settings and how local policies serve as tools for resistance and governance.
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Faculteit der Managementwetenschappen