Adjusting livelihood structure in the Southeast Asian Massif

The uplands east of the Himalayan range stretch over 10 countries, deep into Northeast India, Southwest China, and Mainland Southeast Asia. This region, which I call the Southeast Asian Massif, harbors high val-leys and mountain ranges where a staggering diversity of cultures and social systems have thrived or, according James C. Scott’s thesis, found a refuge against state inclusion. This chapter of fers a general introduction to these populations, focusing on geography, social structures, livelihood practices, relationships with the state and the lowlands, and current issues revolving around rampant modernization and forced inclusion to the global economic order