New Actors and Innovative Approaches to Peacebuilding: The Case of Myanmar

Abstract

This chapter examines the peacebuilding role of selected external actors, especially Indonesia and China, through a study of Myanmar. These two rising powers have played differing but prominent roles in peacebuilding. Indonesia represents an emerging actor in Myanmar diplomacy, both as a single player as well as a prominent member of ASEAN. The chapter shows how Indonesia has explicitly sought mainly to “share” its own experience of transition from semi-authoritarian rule and its handling of various internal armed conflicts. Its cooperation in peace processes and security training has been in response to the demand and pace of the partner government. China maintained ties with Myanmar during its period of diplomatic isolation between the late 1980s and 2010. Beijing adopted a soft power approach towards its southern neighbour, attempting to play a mediating role in peace talks in Myanmar and offering general support for negotiations, including hosting them. The Chinese Embassy in Yangon also sought a more active role in regional aid and assistance. Those initiatives reflect a more active global profile on peace issues as well as Beijing’s geopolitical interests. The chapter also briefly analyzes other external peacebuilding actors in Myanmar, namely Norway, India, Japan and Switzerland, to further elucidate similarities and differences among traditional and new peacebuilding actors.