Kevin Woods

TL;DR: In this article, the authors trace the relationship of military-state formation, land control and security, and primitive accumulation in the Burma-China borderlands, uncovering the forces of what they call "ceasefire capitalism".

Abstract: Recent research has highlighted the conflict potential of both land deals and climate change mitigation projects, but generally the two phenomena are studied separately and the focus is limited to discrete cases of displacement or contested claims We argue that research with a broader “landscape” perspective is needed to better understand the complex social, ecological and institutional interactions taking place in sites of land-based climate change projects (such as biofuel production or forest conservation) and large-scale investments (plantations or mines) Research that co-produces knowledge and capacity with local actors, and informs advocacy at multiple policy scales, will contribute better to preventing, resolving or transforming conflicts

TL;DR: A horizon-scanning approach was used to assess the 40 emerging issues most affecting Myanmar's forests, including internal conflict, land-tenure insecurity, large-scale agricultural development, demise of state timber enterprises, shortfalls in government revenue and capacity, and opening of new deforestation frontiers with new roads, mines, and hydroelectric dams.

TL;DR: In this paper, the authors argue that China's contemporary cross-border investments in northern Myanmar have confronted by, and in turn have re-animated, the region's post-Cold War geographies and associated illicit drug economy.