Trapped in Place: Changing Mobility Patterns and Lifestyles of Thai Moken
1
Issued Date
2026-03-12
Resource Type
eISSN
21491291
Scopus ID
2-s2.0-105033013836
Journal Title
Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies
Volume
13
Issue
2
Start Page
158
End Page
181
Rights Holder(s)
SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies Vol.13 No.2 (2026) , 158-181
Suggested Citation
Husa L.C., Sasiwongsaroj K., Chaisingkananont S., Chaidee V. Trapped in Place: Changing Mobility Patterns and Lifestyles of Thai Moken. Journal of Ethnic and Cultural Studies Vol.13 No.2 (2026) , 158-181. 181. doi:10.29333/ejecs/2664 Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/123456789/115851
Title
Trapped in Place: Changing Mobility Patterns and Lifestyles of Thai Moken
Author's Affiliation
Corresponding Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Mobility restrictions, cultural preservation, and intersectional marginalization are interrelated challenges that profoundly affect indigenous and nomadic populations. Restrictions on their movement through national borders, conservation measures, and development policies disrupt long-established spatial practices, economic systems, and kinship networks. While cultural preservation is essential for maintaining collective identity, it is often complicated by external interventions such as the commercialization of cultural heritage, state assimilation initiatives, and the pressures of globalization. The Moken, a traditionally semi-nomadic seafaring people of the Andaman Sea, are a prime example of these intersecting dynamics. Their experiences therefore provide an excellent case study for examining the intertwined dynamics of mobility, identity and marginality in today's maritime Southeast Asia. Field research conducted from November 2024 to March 2025 on the islands of Surin and Phayam has shown that the Moken's way of life has gradually shifted toward sedentarism. In this article, we argue that the preservation of the Moken's valuable cultural knowledge, both in terms of their profound understanding of their maritime environment and their sustainable use of natural resources, depends crucially on maintaining their "semi-nomadic" identity. However, as their ancestral habitat continues to shrink, they are at risk of losing not only their centuries-old identity but also their valuable cultural practices. This article focuses on the question of what remains of traditional spatial concepts and mobility patterns today and what new patterns have emerged because of changing living and environmental conditions.