Governmentality, resettlement, and resistance of ethnic minority migrants in Vietnam: a case study in Dak Lak province

Abstract

This research aimed to learn about the governmentality of the Vietnamese state toward ethnic minority migrants, through the examination of resettlement policy. This study focused on the case study in Cu Kbang commune, Ea Sup district, Dak Lak province, Vietnam. Base on the concepts of "The will to improve" of Tania Li (T. Li, 2007), the researchers examined the resettlement policy as a solution proposed by the Government to resolve the situation of the ethnic minority migration in Central Highland Vietnam. The research used the qualitative methodology and discourse analysis regarding the conceptual framework of Escobar and Li on policy discourse analysis (Escobar, 2011; T. Li, 2007). Hence, the research examines the problems in three-layer: the discourse from above resulting at the resettlement solution; the ethnic minorities rationalize to migrating and interacting with the resettlement policy; the ground situations as the consequents of two discourse interactions. The research found that ethnic minority behaviors have shaped by the governmentality of the state. Not only the migration act but also how they interact with the resettlement policy at the immigrant place. Also, the local authorities have pointed out the ethnic minority migrant is the group that needs to help to have a better life. Thus, the resettlement policy has been proposed to solve the problem — however, the ethnic minority's wish and the government vision not match. As a result, the resettle migrant life still dealing with a lot of challenges. Nevertheless, there a group of migrants refused to resettle and has shown a resistance act toward the policy. The research argument the resettlement is the technical solution of governmentality, representing the government discourse. Moreover, showing the control attempt toward the ethnic minorities, thus, shaping their behaviors toward the government vision.