Burma/Myanmar - Where Now?

Mikael Gravers is an anthropologist now retired from the University of Aarhus but still active. Widely respected for his research on Burmese issues (especially on the Karen of Burma and Thailand), his Exploring Ethnic Diversity in Burma was published by NIAS Press in 2007. Flemming Ytzen was an editor and columnist at the Danish daily, Politiken. He has long been engaged in and written on the situation in Myanmar/Burma.

Introduction (Mikael Gravers and Flemming Ytzen) 1 Dark realities, glimmers of hope (David Hogsholt) 3 The Gathering Pace of Change 19 Part 1: Order and change Preserving order amid change and developing change amid order (Flemming Ytzen) 25 Apropros fear Different media culture, different pressure from above Broadcast media still heavily controlled Human rights in Burma Local actors (Flemming Ytzen and Mikael Gravers) 46 The 8888 generation Towards a new state in Myanmar (Michael Lidauer) 72 Development of civil society (Charles Petrie and Ashley South) 87 Defining civil society The Kyi to the Great Game East (Bertil Lintner) 95 China tolerates the United States in Burma, up to a point International actors ( Josine Legene and Flemming Ytzen) 109 Social issues (Marie Ditlevsen) 121 The situation of women Part 2: Challenges to unity The colonial legacy (Mikael Gravers) 143 Myanmar Citizenship Law 1982 Ethnic diversity, multiple conflicts (Mikael Gravers) 149 Non-Burman ethnic groups Natives and foreigners Ethnic nationalities - main political organizations and armed groups Kachin Independence Army Ethno-nationalism and violence in Burma/Myanmar - the long Karen struggle for autonomy (Mikael Gravers) 173 Who Are the Karen? Key dates for the Karen The Karen in Myanmar's southeast - great hopes and many unresolved issues (Tim Schroeder & Alan Saw U) 198 'If they come again - ' Coming home! (Lian H. Sakhong) 217 Peace-building in Myanmar (Charles Petrie and Ashley South) 223 Update on the peace process (Ashley South) 250 Casualties of war The struggle for peace in northern Myanmar (Wai Moe) 262 Who are the Kachin? The religious dimension (Mikael Gravers and Marie Ditlevsen) 279 Religion, identity and separatism - the case of the Kachin (Mandy Sadan) 284 Aung San Suu Kyi: Translating Buddhist concepts into democracy Politically engaged Buddhism - spiritual politics or nationalist medium? (Mikael Gravers) 293 Contending approaches to communal violence in Rakhine State (Ardeth Maung Thawnghmung) 323 Part 3: Economy, development and environment Economic fundamentals, ongoing challenges (Marie Ditlevsen) 341 The Myitsone entanglement Local actors in the economy Crony capitalists What does political change in Burma offer migrant workers in Thailand? Burma's economy and the struggle for reform (Sean Turnell) 369 Foreign investors Investment issues Development challenges and environmental issues (Marie Ditlevsen) 387 Cyclone Nargis Foreign aid to Myanmar (Marie Ditlevsen) 399 Opportunities and challenges for donors and INGOs operating in Myanmar (Jonas Noddekar and Marie Ditlevsen) 406 Part 4: The way ahead Whither Burma? (Mikael Gravers and Flemming Ytzen) 417 Historical landmarks 422 List of organizations 425 Further reading 428 Index 431