How does unrest affect migration? Evidence from the three southernmost provinces of Thailand

Abstract

BACKGROUNDIn the southernmost provinces of Thailand, despite the long-term unrest concurrent with migration, very limited research tackles the relationship between these two phenomena. OBJECTIVEThis analysis examines whether migration in the three southernmost provinces is associated with the ongoing unrest. METHODSWe use a sample of 1,009 households from a household probability survey conducted in the three southernmost provinces in 2014. The analysis uses two measures of migration: all migration and destination-specific migration. The unrest is measured as 1) whether a violent incident occurred in the village in the most recent year and 2) the perceived effect of the unrest on the overall life of the household. RESULTSHouseholds in villages where a violent incidence occurred in the past year and households that reported that the unrest affected overall life a lot are more likely to have a migrant. These effects are direct, net of other household and social network characteristics. The unrest is related to increased migration both within Thailand and to Malaysia. This result is stronger for migration to Malaysia compared to migration within Thailand. The destination of migrants is related to education.

Long-term civil conflict, migration, and the mental health of adults left behind in Thailand: a longitudinal study

“…These three southern provinces of Thailand have also been involved in an extended period of civil unrest. This unrest has increased migration from the area (Jampaklay et al 2017). Most villages in the three provinces contain a majority of members who are Muslim, and the presence of masjids(mosques) and practice of the Muslim religion is strong.…”

“…Since the Thai acquisition, there has been tension between the provinces and the Thai government over authority, assimilation to the Thai Buddhist culture, and other issues (UNICEF 2014). Consequently, in addition to a motivation for better income, one of the underlying reasons for migration is the ongoing unrest related to these issues (Jampaklay et al 2017). In the 15 years since 2004, the area experienced more than 6000 deaths and 15,644 violent incidents (Maxmillian 2018).…”

Ecosystem Services of a Wetland in the Politically Unstable Southernmost Provinces of Thailand

“…The southernmost provinces of Thailand including Pattani, Yala, Narathiwat provinces, and some parts of Songkhla province have been in a state of unrest for 15 years (Benharoon & Binsaleh, 2013;. There are complex causes, including forced assimilation to the national Thai identity, frictions between government policies and religious beliefs, systemic discrimination in local governance, political marginalization, abuses of the local population by security forces and state officials, and pressures to achieve autonomy (Benharoon, 2013;Burke, Tweedie, & Poocharoen, 2013;Engvall & Andersson, 2014;Jampaklay, Ford, & Chamratrithirong, 2017). This long-standing unrest has affected the social and economic quality of life, as people feel frightened and unsafe (Benharoon, 2013;Benharoon & Binsaleh, 2013;Vajirakachorn, 2012;Wichaidit, Songwathana, Balthip, & Woods, 2019), and their income per capita is much lower than in neighboring provinces (Burke et al, 2013).…”

Coming of age in a conflict area: Mental health, education, employment, migration and family formation in the southernmost provinces of Thailand

“…The context of this study has been described earlier (Jampaklay, Ford, & Chamratrithirong, 2017). The majority of the population (80%) of the three southernmost provinces of Pattani, Yala and Narathiwat is Muslim.…”

“…The Thai southern Muslims have a shared language and culture with Malaysians, facilitating their participation in the labor force. There is evidence that the unrest may have accelerated this migration (Jampaklay et al, 2017).…”