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The Village of the Damned? Myths and Realities of Structured Begging Behaviour in and Around Phnom Penh

Parsons, Laurie; Lawreniuk, Sabina

Authors

Laurie Parsons



Abstract

This paper concerns the nature of structured begging migration in Phnom Penh, as well as its impact and meaning in sender communities. It interrogates a popular myth known throughout Cambodia concerning the supernatural motivation of ‘rich’ beggars, arguing that its prevalence reflects the growing incidence of structured, circular migration based around alms seeking in the capital. In doing so, it seeks to bridge the lacuna between the literature on begging and that on migration by showing that the distinction between the two is both blurred and straddled by migrants in many cases.

Citation

Parsons, L., & Lawreniuk, S. (2016). The Village of the Damned? Myths and Realities of Structured Begging Behaviour in and Around Phnom Penh. Journal of Development Studies, 52(1), 36-52. https://doi.org/10.1080/00220388.2015.1056787

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Apr 2, 2015
Online Publication Date Aug 24, 2015
Publication Date Jan 2, 2016
Deposit Date Sep 15, 2020
Journal The Journal of Development Studies
Print ISSN 0022-0388
Electronic ISSN 1743-9140
Publisher Taylor & Francis (Routledge)
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 52
Issue 1
Pages 36-52
DOI https://doi.org/10.1080/00220388.2015.1056787
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/4778382
Additional Information Peer Review Statement: The publishing and review policy for this title is described in its Aims & Scope.; Aim & Scope: http://www.tandfonline.com/action/journalInformation?show=aimsScope&journalCode=fjds20