Features
- Perfect Paperback: 95 pages
- Published by: East-West Center Washington; Institute of Southeast Asian Studies ISEAS August 7, 2007
- Written in: English
- ISBN 10 Number: 9812304797
- ISBN 13 Number: 978-9812304797
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Book Dimensions:
8.9 x 6 x 0.3 inches
- Weighs: 6.4 ounces
Product Description
Since independence in 1948, Burma has been the scene of some of the most-sustained and diverse ethnic insurgencies in the contemporary world. This study looks at the dynamics of conflict that have caused internal wars to become so uniquely entrenched in one of Asia's most troubled lands. Against a backdrop of conflict, different nationality movements have been able to adapt and survive, utilizing the changing political, economic, and international conditions in the country. In the process, armed opposition became a way of life in the borderlands, while the central state became increasingly militarized. Burma's conflicts, however, have not been static. This study identifies five major cycles of conflict that have seen the national government transform from a parliamentary democracy at independence through Gen. Ne Win's "Burmese Way to Socialism" to the current military State Peace and Development Council. As the political impasse continues, ethnic ceasefires and open-door economic policies are changing the structures of conflict. In an overview of humanitarian and international dilemmas, the study concludes that conflict resolution with integrated support from the international community remains a primary need if Burma and its peoples are to achieve peace, democracy, and a stable nation-state.
About The Author
Martin Smith is an independent analyst and author.
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