Demystifying Myanmar’s Transition and Political Crisis

Description

This book offers the assessment of Myanmar’s societal changes, development aspects, and political situation over the course of the nation’s short lived democratic transition disrupted by the coup d’état on 1 February 2021. A multitude of authors with different expertise add new dimensions of analysis to provide a foundation for any future international cooperation in Myanmar’s center and peripheries. The military’s institutionalization of its influence and control in political, economic and social affairs has negatively affected the safety, security and peace of people and their communities at the periphery. This in turn has led the people to undertake local grassroots initiatives towards securing a genuine democratic transition at the local and national level.   The chapters probe into Myanmar’s transition and political crisis through in-depth discussion on the issues such as, but not limited to, state fragility, community resilience, political leadership, ethnic women’s organizations, human security, education equality, IDPs and non-state actors, ethnic community-based health organizations, the 2020 election, peace process, development issues, the coup’s destruction, and a new-born unity. The book covers an important collection of inputs from young and prominent scholars alike, offering a valuable resource for general readers, students, and practitioners.   The editors present this volume as a vital collection to literature at a time of heated political crisis and societal responses on her current course since the contributors highlight the state of Myanmar by also focusing on the margins, the grassroots, and the recent coup. Foreword Acknowledgements Contents Notes on Contributors List of Figures List of Tables Part I Transition and the Periphery 1 Myanmar’s Path to Democracy from 2016–2021: Progress, Limitations and Disruptions Deepening Crises: An Overview Reflections from the Periphery: The Kyainseikgyi Flood Reflections from the Pandemic, Election, and Coup: Chapter Highlights References 2 The Role of Aung San Suu Kyi in Myanmar’s Transition (2011–2021) Introduction The Asymmetry of Power Tatmadaw’s Planned Political System The 2011 Reforms Aung San Suu Kyi’s Dilemma Navigating the Disciplined Democracy The Uneasy but Manageable Cohabitation The Second Plebiscite and the Fourth Coup Conclusion References 3 Human Security and the Roles of Ethnic Women’s Organisations in Transitional Myanmar Introduction Human Security Security, Development, and Peace Human Security Challenges in Myanmar A Case of Mon Women’s Organization (MWO) Promotion of Human Security by MWO Conclusion References 4 Evaluation of the Equality of Education on Basic Education Standard in Chin State, Burma/Myanmar Introduction Brief Background of Chin State Overview of Basic Education in Burma/Myanmar Evaluation on Basic Education System in Chin State State Government's Weak Decision-Making Power Teacher Insufficiency and Incompetency Promotion of School Level Insecurity Poor School Infrastructure The Border Areas and Ethnic National Races Youth Development Schools (Na Ta La) Evaluation of the Situation on Basic Education Standard in Chin State References 5 Non-State Actors on the IDPs in Kachin: Provision of Humanitarian Assistance and Protection of Justice Background of the Kachin Conflict Understanding the Context of Non-State Actors’ Major Role in Kachin State Churches: Shelters for IDPs and Their Protection The Role of Churches in Protecting IDPs for Justice The Effort of Churches for IDPs Returns and Resettlement Conclusion 6 Public Health Reform and Transition in Burma/Myanmar Background References 7 Redrawing or Blurring the Boundary? Observations of Naga People’s Political Struggles and Local Cross-Border Trade Practices Introduction History of the Naga Political Struggle of the Naga People Indo-Myanmar Border Trade Grihang Village and Border Trade Conclusion Postscript: Possible Transition in the Border Area References 8 Myanmar on the Road Towards the 2020 Elections: A Pre-electoral Assessment Introduction Legal Framework in Brief Election Administration Institutional Organisation and Composition Voter Registration Political Parties and Electoral Campaign Political Party Landscape Political Party and Candidate Registration Campaign Regulation Campaign Finance Elections and Conflict The Potential Cancellation of Elections Conflict in Rakhine State Social Media and Elections Election Observation Towards Election Day Post-Scriptum Selected Sources and Further Readings Part II From Challenges to Unity 9 The Politics of Space: Naypyidaw and the Ghosts of Yangon The Ghosts of Yangon The Insurgent City and a Host of Green Nats Yangon Landscapes: The Visible and Invisible City From Yangon to Naypyidaw Sacred Spaces and Identity: The Upattasanti Pagoda Conclusion: Placelessness References 10 Myanmar’s Peace Process and Ceasefire Monitoring Mechanism: A Post-mortem Background Stalemate and Suspicion Ceasefire Monitoring in Divided Societies: An Overview Recent Ceasefire Monitoring Experiences: Sudan, Indonesia, Sri Lanka Aceh, Indonesia Sri Lanka Myanmar’s JMC The JMC’s Co-option Non-Tatmadaw Experiences in the JMC The End of the Process Looking into the Future References 11 A Paradise Lost in the Indo-Pacific? Great Power Politics and International Relations of the Myanmar Tragedy A Coup from Within? Three Images and the Myanmar Coup International Society and the Myanmar Crisis: The Three Paradigms A Tragic Coda: Myanmar as Asia’s Next Failed State? References 12 Difficult Development Trade-Offs Amidst ‘Transition’: Exploring Power and Politics in Post-2010 Myanmar Introduction Development Theory and Practice Since 1945: A Brief Overview Engaging with the Difficult Trade-Offs That Surround Processes of Development: Four Starting Points Development as a Disruptive Process Incorporating Power Relations into Analysis of Development Processes Engaging with the ‘Distributive Impacts’ of Development A Relational Framework for Analysing Poverty, Inequality and Economic Growth Rural Development Strategies in Myanmar: A Political Economy Approach Conclusion Funding Statement References 13 The World Is Not “Flat”: Limits to Development and Control on a Burmese Periphery Background An Ecology of Conflict and Control AA’s Arrival in Paletwa The Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army ARSA and AA: A Major Difference ARSA’s Future Conclusion References 14 Patterns of Japanese Development Assistance for Social Transformation in Reform-Era Myanmar Background Japanese Interest in Myanmar Japanese Aid to Myanmar, 2005–2019 Methodology Aid Amounts Sectoral Allocations Sectoral Distribution of ODA-Subsidized NGO Projects Assistance to Myanmar Civil Society Regional Allocations Regional Distribution of ODA-Subsidized NGO Projects and Grassroots/Human Security Projects Parallel Dual-Track Civil Society Initiatives Discussion Conclusion References 15 Restoring the Culture of Peace in Locals: Agent of Change from Myanmar’s Periphery Introduction Women and Culture of Peace Proactive and Responsive Activities by Ethnic Women’s Organisations in Myanmar Agents of Grassroots Social Transformation: A Case Study of EWOs Commonality in Diversity Ensuring Coherence from Vision to Action to Campaign Transferring a Culture of Peace to the Grassroots Community Conclusion References 16 Myanmar at a “Point of No Return”: Unity Reborn Despite Junta’s Terrorization Outside Perceptions and Inside Reality Coups in Myanmar: Similarities and Differences The Military Terrorizes, the People Defend Path Towards the Death of Tyranny and Birth of a New Nation References Index