MYANMAR'S FRAGMENTED DEMOCRACY: TRANSITION OR ILLUSION?

The recent military coup in Myanmar perpetrated by the Tatmadaw has set the country back to the days of political uncertainty and military authoritarianism. This book examines how far the country has come since its nascent attempt at democratic reforms and democratisation in 2010.

Each chapter considers some of the more prominent issues that have plagued Myanmar since political reforms started. First, there have been debates about the extent to which democratic reforms have been achieved since the Constitution was formalised in 2008. Second, what has been the significance of the three elections in 2010, 2015 and 2020? Third, how has the National League for Democracy transformed in the past decade? How far has the Union Solidarity and Development Party changed the political landscape? What roles did the Tatmadaw play in the last decade? Fourth, questions surrounding how the ethnic crisis, not least the Rohingya issue, have continued to dominate the country's political landscape in the last decade, thereby overshadowing its democratisation process.

Finally, how far have these efforts at democracy demonstrated Myanmar's futile attempts at appeasing the domestic and international audience? Myanmar's relations with the global and regional community vis-à-vis the US, China, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations have also taken a toll in the last decade. There is already a shift in power politics, especially with China determining the direction of Myanmar.

Myanmar has been locked in a perpetual cycle transitioning between military authoritarianism and democratisation. These prevailing issues have led to a fragmented democracy and a lost opportunity to demonstrate its foray into a genuine democracy.

Contents:

• About the Author
• Acknowledgements
• List of Abbreviations
• List of Tables
• Introduction
• A Chequered Political History: 1948–2008
• Electoral History and Its Aftermath: 2010, 2015 and 2020 Elections
• Conflicts of Interest: USDP, NLD and the Tatmadaw
• Ethnic Politics: Panglong II and the Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement — Failure or Fault Lines?
• Rohingyas and Their Many Problems
• Myanmar's Geopolitical Engagement: ASEAN and the Rest of the World
• Conclusion: Myanmar's Fragmented Democracy: Transition or Illusion?
• Bibliography
• Index

Readership: Researchers and those interested in regional politics and foreign policy of Southeast Asia, as well as domestic politics in Myanmar.

Key Features:

• There is a growing interest in the social, political, and economic development of Myanmar. Given the extent of the military junta in Myanmar to stymie democracy in the country throughout its history, this would surely be a timely examination of its democratic process thus far
• The military coup on 1 February 2021 is yet another historical moment to rewrite the country's political process. The arrests of the National League for Democracy leaders and supporters, not least its leader Aung San Suu Kyi, certainly seem to spell more trouble for the country now more so than in the past
• The challenges and issues that have plagued the country over the years, especially with the Rohingya crisis, have taken centrestage of the country's political landscape
• The influence of the US and China, as well as other regional players, continue to play a significant role in Myanmar and how has that change the country and what would this mean for Myanmar
• The role of the Tatmadaw and its political allies, such as the Union Solidarity and Development Party, will continue to be important, but more so, the way it has changed the Myanmar political landscape and the need to re-examine the influence these institutions have in Myanmar