毒品民族主义的建构 ：掸邦共和国的成立 = Conceptionalization of drug nationalism : establishment of Shan State

• Main Author: 刘翘铭 Low, Qiao Meng
• Other Authors: Liu Hsiaopong Philip
• Format: Final Year Project
• Language: Chinese
• Published: 2010
• Subjects: DRNTU::Humanities::History::Asia::Burma
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10356/38536
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

Ever since the Peace of Westphalia treaties were signed in 1648, the concept of sovereignty and territory started to take its initial form in the human civilisation, which in turn led to the conceptualisation of Nationalism theory. As time goes by, debates have been going on and various scholars have come up with their own understandings regarding the nature of Nationalism. Although there are various types of understandings, most of them have a common trend. That is to specify the scope of Nationalism in order to identify its concrete existence. It is also due to this specification of the scope of Nationalism, the various perspectives of Nationalism theory do not complete our understanding on Nationalism. One of the aspects that has yet to be introduced or discussed in the academic circle is “Drug Nationalism”. The writer attempts to use the establishment of Shan State by Khun Sa as an unique case study to introduce the new theory. Shan State was established in 1993 and collapsed in 1996. Within 3 years, the country’s drug production rose to its peak, cash kept rolling in and as a result, its military strength was greatly expanded. At that time, Shan State was at its supreme strength yet it just collapsed out of the sudden. All these that had happened were caused by drug and only it could cause such a big turmoil within a short period of time. Therefore, the redemption of Shan’s independence and freedom with drug was just a flash in the pan. The illusion of harmony between drug and Nationalism was clearly shown and proven in this case study. By forming and justifying this theory, the writer attempts to deliver impact on the past study approach of Nationalism and further deny its concrete existence.