Refugiados da Birmânia na Tailândia: da solidariedade na acolhida à criação de Políticas Públicas

Abstract

This study deals with the Burmese refugee’s reception in Thailand. It emphasizes the Thai border villagers’ solidarity while receiving those refugees and the influence of this solidarity on the development of Thai public policies for refugees. One feature of this case is the fact that Thailand has not signed international refugee protocols and therefore has no legal obligation in front of the international community to host refugees. The main objective of this dissertation is to analyze the Thai Public Policy agenda regarding the reception of refugees. Descriptive and analytical method of qualitative research was chosen because it was considered the most appropriate for this work. The case study procedure was applied with the use of documentary research methodological technique, coupled with semi-structured interviews. The analyzes of the primary data generated in the interviews were based on content analysis as well on the researcher's perception and reflections. The results of this analysis, triangulated with data from other sources (bibliography, documents, among others) confirm the initial hypothesis regarding solidarity as one of the main drivers of the refugees' acceptance by the Thai population at the borders as well as the fact that this solidarity has permeated public policies.