Myanmar Diaspora's Long-Distance Activism in the Netherlands after the 2021 Military Coup

Abstract

This research examines the Myanmar diaspora’s long-distance activism in the Netherlands following the 2021 military coup. Through ethnographic fieldwork (2022–2023), it explores diverse forms of activism emerging from the diaspora’s expressions of solidarity and responsibility for populations back home. Analysed through an intergenerational and interethnic lens, the framework of long-distance activism helps to understand that their activism is not solely tied to nation-building or the state but instead is driven by multiple, often competing visions of what homeland and support for the homeland means. While these divisions remain unresolved, long-distance activism creates space for collaboration across ethnic and generational faultlines.