Decoding the Regime Playbook
Insight Myanmar30 Juli 2024

Decoding the Regime Playbook

Episode #255: Roger Huang dives into the enigmatic nature of Myanmar's political landscape, arguing that the transition period wasn't driven by external pressures like sanctions or international isolation, but by an internal recalibration towards the military realizing its vision of a “disciplined democracy.” This vision is rooted in the failure of the Burmese Way to Socialism of the 1960s-70s, which prompted the military to pivot towards more economic openness combined with tightly controlled democratization that would ensure their continued dominance.

From the 1990s onwards, the military indeed benefited from economic openings despite international sanctions, enriching themselves and cronies through trade with countries like China and Thailand. The 2010s brought genuine, albeit limited, liberalization, which was part of the military's plan, and not a step towards full democratization. The military's grip tightened again as the NLD's electoral success threatened their system.

Civil society, often seen as a democratizing force, was allowed to flourish only within strict limits, providing services where the state did not, but never challenging the military's core interests. The military's resilience, unity, and adaptability have been key to its enduring control. In sum, Huang's analysis presents a stark picture: the junta’s “disciplined democracy” was never meant to transition to true civilian rule, and any significant challenge to this system would always have been met with the swift reassertion of military dominance.

Avsnitt(509)

A Diplomatic Deadlock

A Diplomatic Deadlock

Episode #254: Kitti Prasirtsuk, a professor at Thammasat University, explains that neither ASEAN, nor Thailand in particular, have done enough to address the regionally important Myanmar crisis. In te...

26 Juli 202443min

Jonathan Crowley, Part 4

Jonathan Crowley, Part 4

Episode #253: This is the 4th installment of our interview with Jonathan Crowley, a dedicated vipassana meditator in the tradition of S. N. Goenka. In this episode, he speaks about the time he and his...

23 Juli 20242h 2min

A Star2 Is Born

A Star2 Is Born

Episode #252: Born in a Thai refugee camp after his family fled the violence in Myanmar, Star2’s life has been remarkable. His family moved to San Diego when he was just five, and there he faced a new...

19 Juli 20241h 5min

A Sacred Struggle

A Sacred Struggle

Episode #251: Alexandra Kaloyanides joins the podcast to talk about her recent book, Baptizing Burma: Religious Change in the Last Buddhist Kingdom. After pursuing her own meditation practice while ex...

16 Juli 20241h 50min

A Critical Junction

A Critical Junction

Episode #250: Rosalia (“Lia”) Sciortino, founder of SEA Junction in Bangkok, shares her poignant narrative of dedication to the country of Myanmar. Her journey began with an interest in cultural anthr...

12 Juli 20241h 16min

Fighting Fire With Fire

Fighting Fire With Fire

Episode #249: Nathan Ruser, a geospatial analyst focusing on human rights, sheds light on a deeply troubling situation unfolding in Myanmar's Rakhine State. Ruser has meticulously detailed the actions...

9 Juli 20242h 5min

ASEAN’s Inconvenient Humanitarian Crisis

ASEAN’s Inconvenient Humanitarian Crisis

Episode #248: Working in ASEAN for 27 years, Adelina Kamal played a pivotal role in establishing and ultimately being appointed executive director of its AHA Centre for Coordinated Disaster Response, ...

2 Juli 20242h 18min

Crime and Punishment

Crime and Punishment

Episode #247: Nicholas Koumjian, the head of the Independent Investigative Mechanism for Myanmar (IIMM), shares his insights into the ongoing atrocities in Myanmar. He emphasizes the critical need for...

28 Juni 20241h 5min

Populärt inom Politik & nyheter

aftonbladet-krim
rss-krimstad
p3-krim
motiv
fordomspodden
blenda-2
flashback-forever
aftonbladet-daily
spar
rss-sanning-konsekvens
svenska-fall
olyckan-inifran
svd-ledarredaktionen
rss-krimreportrarna
krimmagasinet
rss-frandfors-horna
rss-vad-fan-hande
rss-flodet
dagens-eko
grans