ARTICLES

17 Sep 2021

Co-opting Civilians into Myanmar’s State Administration Council Junta

Htet Myet Min Tun|Moe Thuzar|Michael J. Montesano

The inclusion of civilians on the country’s latest junta is impossible to understand without a clear appreciation that that this junta is above all an anti-NLD project. This article examines the profiles of the civilians co-opted into the junta.

16 Sep 2021

Myanmar and the United Nations: Fighting for a Seat at the Table

Moe Thuzar|Romain Caillaud

A China-US pact to retain the envoy at the United Nations appointed by the former National League for Democracy government has effectively deferred the decision as to who will represent the country at multilateral organisations like the UN.

ASEAN Myanmar Myanmar Politics

4 Aug 2021

Min Aung Hlaing and His Generals: Some Biographical Notes

Htet Myet Min Tun|Moe Thuzar|Michael J. Montesano

Following his 1 February seizure of power in Naypyitaw, Senior General Min Aung Hlaing formed an 11-member junta called the State Administration Council (SAC). This article examines the biographical profiles of junta’s key military members, in an effort to better understand the regime.

Myanmar Myanmar Military Myanmar Politics

16 Jun 2021

Ethnic Armed Organisations in Post-Coup Myanmar: New Conversations Needed

Andrew Ong

The widespread attacks on Tatmadaw troops by resistance forces have raised speculation that Ethnic Armed Organisations (EAOs) could serve as a “wild card” that might decide the country’s fate. This is premature and creates a false impression of unity in intent.

Myanmar Myanmar Military Myanmar Politics

14 Jun 2021

The United States and the Myanmar Crisis: Broad Interests, Constricted Responses

Robert Sutter

The United States has leaned heavily on traditional policy instruments, primarily sanctions, to manage the political crisis in Myanmar. Currently, it remains unclear if Washington will go beyond the limited scope of past practice.

Myanmar Myanmar Politics U.S. Foreign Policy

28 May 2021

Crisis upon Crisis: Fighting COVID-19 Becomes a Political Struggle after Myanmar’s Military Coup

Courtney T. Wittekind

In the aftermath of Myanmar’s coup, a nationwide strike by civil servants and lack of trust in the military regime that staged the February 1 takeover has reversed the country’s hard-won progress in the fight against COVID-19. The potential spread of the virus amongst protestors could accelerate the system-wide collapse of the already fragile health sector.

COVID-19 Myanmar Myanmar Politics

24 May 2021

Military Rule in Myanmar: Parsing the Propaganda

Courtney T. Wittekind

Critics of the Myanmar military should not be too quick in dismissing its propaganda. A closer examination reveals the junta’s priorities and strategy.

Myanmar Myanmar Politics

14 May 2021

ASEAN’s Mission to Myanmar: An Approach to Ends with Possibilities of Success

Hoang Thi Ha

All eyes will be on the incoming mission of the ASEAN Chair’s special envoy in Myanmar to facilitate talks between the military junta and civilian government it toppled earlier this year. But the writing is already on the wall – the envoy has a mountain to climb.

ASEAN ASEAN Neutrality Myanmar Myanmar Politics

27 Apr 2021

ASEAN Emergency Summit: In the Hot Seat

Sharon Seah

One can assess ASEAN’s recent emergency meeting in Jakarta in two ways. One scenario is cautiously optimistic; the other would be tantamount to pure fatalism.

ASEAN ASEAN Neutrality ASEAN-China Relations Myanmar Myanmar Politics U.S. Foreign Policy