Cross-border mobility has long been crucial for communities in Nepal’s frontier regions—not only for sustaining livelihoods but also for maintaining deep-rooted cultural ties with Tibetan counterparts. Since the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, previous mobilities have been variously restricted, including a prolonged border closure triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic. Such disruptions impact local populations, with implications for economic sustainability and cultural continuity in the Himalayas. Whereas on the Tibetan side of the frontier, the number of settlements is increasing as a result of the PRC’s strategy to populate the border region—on the Nepali side, many people are seeking opportunities to migrate or to reorient their economic connections southward.
The presenters will explore the dynamic socio-cultural and economic landscape of the Tibet–Nepal frontier, shaped by local aspirations, Nepal’s state policy, and China’s expanding influence.
Participants:
Emily Yeh (University of Colorado Boulder)
Galen Murton (James Madison University)
Andrew Grant (University of Tampa)
Jarmila Ptáčková (Oriental Institute of the Czech Academy of Sciences)
Discussant:
Geoff Childs (Washington University in St. Louis)
This event is in-person only.
For non-Columbia guests, registration is required to access the Morningside campus. After registering you will receive an email with a QR code that must be presented along with a government-issued ID (your name must match exactly the name registered for the event) at either the 116th Street & Broadway or 116th Street & Amsterdam gates for entry. Please register using a unique email address (one email address per registrant) by 12noon on Friday, December 5, for campus access.
