Positions of Responsibility: The Search for Solutions to Irregular Migration in Southeast Asia
The initial reaction by Southeast Asian governments to the flow of migrants through the Bay of Bengal and Andaman Sea reflected the dominant perceptions of migrants as posing a threat to state security and stability. The reaction also highlighted their reliance on bilateral or mini-lateral attempts to address the situation, rather than system-wide responses that engage all important stakeholders. The policies initiated by governments in the region were in many ways strikingly similar to those put into effect in the late 1970s in response to the so-called Indochinese exodus. Revisiting the circumstances under which this solution was attained could provide valuable lessons regarding how to develop a humane and sustainable solution to the root causes of irregular migration that recently dominated the news.
