Borderland dynamics in Mae Sot, Thailand and the pursuit of the Bangkok Dream and resettlement

This article explores how the forces of mobility affect the border society of Mae Sot, Thailand. In particular, it examines two forces generating population movements involving Burmese migrants: The Bangkok Dream, which pushes migrants from the borderland to Bangkok in their search for better opportunities, and refugee resettlement programs, which take refugees from the borderland to other countries. These two processes create massive human migrations across and beyond the border, with Mae Sot serving as a node. The study found that migrations have become part and parcel of societal formation of the border town.