HUMA PhD Thesis Presentation - Beyond Mountain and Basin: Weaving the Landscape of Symbiotic Network in Northwest Yunnan

Abstract:

This study explores the dynamic interactions between humans and the mountainous environment of Northwest Yunnan, examining how individuals and communities navigate environmental constraints to create expansive social spaces. Employing a landscape perspective, this study regards the geographical environment as an active participant in social processes, rather than a mere passive backdrop. In this way, inhabitants utilize their unique geographical positions to develop extensive networks of relationships that foster mutual support and economic interchange. Through ethnographic fieldwork, this study reveals that these relation networks transcend geographical and ethnic boundaries, thereby creating a highly dynamic local space in response to political and economic changes. Embedded with personal experiences and memories, these networks contribute to the formation of a symbiotic landscape where communities are neither isolated nor confined by physical boundaries. This study advocates for reconceptualizing mountain area and basin area as indivisible geographical alliances, essential for understanding regional dynamics across varying political and economic contexts. By providing a localized perspective on environment engagement, this study challenges the existing methodological approaches in regional studies that adopt static model and overlook the complexity and dynamism in local context. It attempts to move beyond the conventional highland/mountain—lowland/basin dichotomy prevalent in Southeast Asia and Southwest China research, thereby enriching our understanding of mobility and connectivity on the southwestern frontier.