Publications

  • Journal Article Coming Soon

Contact

Contact Dr. Jiraporn Laocharoenwong for further details.



Project Status: Ongoing


The purpose of this project is to examine Thailand government policies regarding Covid-19, in particular where it concerns borders and human bodies crossing those borders. It specifically focuses on three groups: Thai repatriating students, overseas Thai migrant workers wishing to return home, and migrant workers from neighboring countries working in Thailand who (often in precarious job situations) did not know whether to return or stay. The project aims to interrogate the workings and the consequences of these Covid-19 border policies, which have placed health concerns over any economic or other concern. The state's biopower gaze, reducing both citizens and non-citizens to merely healthy or sick bodies, has ultimately proved successful in stemming the spread of the infection, but its consequences were acutely felt: the erected 'health border' comprised quotas preventing students overseas from returning for a long time, migrant workers literally got stuck at the border, unable to return, people lost their jobs, and the tanking economy has increased suicides nationally.

The outcome of this project, showing the unintended consequences of governing Covid-19 as it affected vulnerable groups crossing the border, will yield a clearer picture for future policy

This project is a collaboration with Graduate Research in International Development Studies (GRIDS) where post-grad students who are interested in topics of migration have an opportunity to do fieldworks and exchange the ideas with researchers. 

Researchers:

  • Dr. Carl Middleton

  • Dr. Jiraporn Laocharoenwong

GRIDS students/ research assistants:

  • Orapan Prathomlek

  • Josephine

  • Thianchai Surimas

  • Wipawadee Panyangnoi