Caretaking Democratization: The Military and Political Change in Myanmar

Democratization in the Global South: From democratic transitions to transformative democratic politics

“…After five decades of military rule, Myanmar has seen a democratic opening since 2010, when a flawed election was used to transfer power to a nominally civilian government that opened up for basic civil freedoms and electoral democracy (Cheesman, Skidmore, & Wilson, ). This has generated scholarly and political debates about the dynamics and outcomes of the democratic opening, especially whether Myanmar is in transition to liberal democracy or to institutionalized semi‐authoritarianism (Cheesman, Farrelly, & Wilson, ; Egreteau, ; Lall, ).…”

“…On the other hand, an alternative discourse has gained ground in recent years and portrays Myanmar's democratic opening as a military strategy to institutionalize a hybrid form of rule, in order to maintain political stability and military power with increased domestic and international legitimacy (Bünte, ; Huang, ; L. Jones, ). A core element in this strategy is the military‐designed 2008 Constitution, which provides a framework for a unitary state with formal democracy and guaranteed positions of power for the military in parliamentary politics, government, and public administration (Egreteau, ). Proponents of this interpretation also point to the importance of geopolitics in Southeast Asia, arguing that the military regime and Western states had a mutual interest in re‐engaging each other in the context of a “rising China” and that this gave increased legitimacy for the military even without substantive political reforms (Bünte & Dosch, ; Egreteau & Jagan, ).…”

“…Relative actor strength Elite ascendant Pact Imposition Mass ascendant Reform Revolution STOKKE generated scholarly and political debates about the dynamics and outcomes of the democratic opening, especially whether Myanmar is in transition to liberal democracy or to institutionalized semi-authoritarianism (Cheesman, Farrelly, & Wilson, 2014;Egreteau, 2016;Lall, 2016).…”

“…Jones, 2014). A core element in this strategy is the military-designed 2008 Constitution, which provides a framework for a unitary state with formal democracy and guaranteed positions of power for the military in parliamentary politics, government, and public administration (Egreteau, 2016). Proponents of this interpretation also point to the importance of geopolitics in Southeast Asia, arguing that the military regime and Western states had a mutual interest in re-engaging each other in the context of a "rising China" and that this gave increased legitimacy for the military even without substantive political reforms (Bünte & Dosch, 2015;Egreteau & Jagan, 2013).…”

Introduction: Resources Politics and Knowing the Salween River

“…While some areas of the basin are undergoing dramatic transformations, other areas appear to be almost at an impasse. This is due to a combination of factors, including the transformations within the basin, and in the context of the broader political, economic and social changes in the region (e.g., Simpson 2016;Egreteau 2016;Farrelly/Gabusi 2015). There is also a long-standing call to "know more" about this understudied basin, often associated with a whole range of development plans and visions for enhancing economic integration, nationally, regionally, and globally (Johnston et al 2017).…”