Session Name: Marginal Lives Across and Between Borders
Ethnicity, Homogeneity, and the Chin Refugees in Mizoram: Observations and Reflection from the Field
Wednesday, July 31, 2024
11:15 – 13:00 (GMT+7)
Paper Abstract: The paper examines the complex relationship between the state and Chin refugees in Mizoram, India. It discusses the rights, responsibilities, and unique challenges faced by these Chin refugees. Amidst the recent turmoil of military crackdown and forced displacement in Myanmar, numerous Chin refugees, ethnically akin to the Mizo community, crossed the border to seek asylum in the bordering villages of Mizoram. Despite the warm welcome by ethnically similar communities, the Indian government did not officially classify them as refugees, leading to a precarious situation for these Chin refugees.
This paper applies a social contract theory framework, explicitly focusing on Joseph H. Carens perspectives on immigration and state-immigrant relationships. The study explores the rights and responsibilities of Chin refugees, how they navigate the attainment of these rights, and how state authorities are addressing this issue.
Key questions addressed include the role of ethnicity in providing refuge to displaced individuals during times of conflict, how Chin immigrants access the rights available to host state citizens, and how the state assumes responsibility for providing these rights when the central government is uncooperative. The paper uses a qualitative approach and an explanatory research design to provide insights into the real-life dynamics of the refugee crisis unfolding in the border regions of India. The findings offer valuable insights into the challenges and perspectives within this unique refugee situation in Mizoram and its implications for the local Mizo communities. The paper also contributes to the broader field of refugee studies and the worldwide refugee crisis.
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