The Karen are one of the major ethnic minority groups in the Himalayan highlands, living predominantly in the border area between Thailand and Burma. As the largest ethnic minority in Thailand, they have often been in conflict with the Thai majority. This book is the first major ethnographic and anthropological study of the Karen for over a decade and looks at such key issues as history, ethnic identity, religious change, the impact of government intervention, education land management and gender relations.
Based on original, empirical anthropological research, this book assesses the socio-economic consequences of globalization on an ethnic minority in a developing country. This book will appeal to those studying ethnic minorities in Southeast Asia from an anthropologica, Asianst or cultural perspective.