Thawnghmung's Books

The "other" Karen in Myanmar

Ethnic Minorities and the Struggle Without Arms

By: Ardeth Maung Thawnghmung

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The "other" Karen in Myanmar

Ethnic Minorities and the Struggle Without Arms

By: Ardeth Maung Thawnghmung

This book is the first study to an offer insight into non-armed, non-insurgent members of ethnic groups that are associated with well-known armed organizations. It analyzes the nature of the relationships between the "quiet" minorities and their "rebel" counterparts and assesses how these intra-ethnic differences and divisions affect the armed resistance movement, negotiation with state authorities, conflict resolution, and political reform. This field-based study of the Karen in Burma also provides theoretical and policy implications for other ethnically polarized countries.

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Page Count

233

Publisher

Lexington Books

Published Date

ISBN 10

0739168525

ISBN 13

9780739168523

Behind The Teak Curtain

Authoritarianism, Agricultural Policies and Political Legitimacy in Rural Burma/Myanmar

By: Ardeth Maung Thawnghmung

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Behind The Teak Curtain

Authoritarianism, Agricultural Policies and Political Legitimacy in Rural Burma/Myanmar

By: Ardeth Maung Thawnghmung

First published in 2006. Behind the Teak Curtain, the first fieldwork-based study of Burmese rural politics and development, examines the specific circumstances under which one of the most repressive and authoritative governments in the world enjoys popularity in the countryside. The book analyzes four different agricultural policies that have been implemented under the Burmese military regime since 1978, and examines their consequential and varying impacts on rice farmers' attitudes toward central and local authorities. Behind the Teak Curtain provides first-hand information on Burmese rice farmers' conceptualization of political legitimacy, their political goals and priorities, and their relationships with central government authorities and local officials. This work seeks to challenge conventional studies on Burma, which focus on the behavior and actions of the military elite in Rangoon and treat the military regime as a unitary actor. It will be shown how and why the same autocratic and repressive military leaders who are perceived by a particular sector of the population as illegitimate may, at the same time, be favorably seen and accepted by another group of citizens. Finally, this study draws out the implications of these findings for other authoritarian governments in developing societies. It will demonstrate a more comprehensive foundation of legitimacy in authoritarian countries by highlighting the varying perceptions and attitudes in society toward central government authorities, toward local officials, and the different bases of legitimacy enjoyed by these two different levels of authority. Behind the Teak Curtain will interest anthropologists, sociologists, and historians interested in agrarian communities including peasant culture and political attitudes, particularly those with interest in Burma and Southeast Asia. This book is also targeted at agricultural economists and development theorists who are concerned with agricultural promotion and rural development. It sheds light on the problems inherent in the administrative structure of the military government, and how they hamper effective implementation of agricultural policies. Finally, this project will provide a comparative case study for those who study authoritarian regimes, military governments, and Third World countries.

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Page Count

259

Publisher

Routledge

Published Date

ISBN 10

113620119X

ISBN 13

9781136201196

The Karen Revolution in Burma

Diverse Voices, Uncertain Ends

By: Ardeth Maung Thawnghmung

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The Karen Revolution in Burma

Diverse Voices, Uncertain Ends

By: Ardeth Maung Thawnghmung

This study analyses the various types and stages of conflict that have been experienced by diverse groups and generations of Karen over the six decades of armed conflict between the Karen National Union (KNU) and successive Burmese governments. Instead of focusing on those who are internally displaced, those in the refugee camps on the Thai-Burma border or living abroad, or those in the KNU, it places particular emphasis on the "other" Karen, or the majority segment of the Karen population living inside Burma, a population that has hitherto received little scholarly and journalistic attention. It also assesses the Karen people's varied attitudes toward a number of political organizations that claim to represent their interests, toward successive Burmese military regimes, and toward the political issues that led to the original divide between "accommodators" and "rebels." This study argues that the lifestyles and strategies that the Karens have pursued are diverse and not confined to armed resistance. Acknowledging these multiple voices will not only shed light upon the many positive features of ethnic interactions, including harmonious communal relationships and significant attempts to promote peace and stability by encouraging "normal" activities and routines in both peaceful and war-torn areas; it will also help to identify policy recommendations for future ceasefire negotiations and a possible long-term political settlement within the context of a militarized Burma.

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Publisher

Institute of Southeast Asian Studies

Published Date

ISBN 10

9812308040

ISBN 13

9789812308047

The Significance of Everyday Access to Justice in Myanmar’s Transition to Democracy

By: Helene Maria Kyed,Ardeth Maung Thawnghmung

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The Significance of Everyday Access to Justice in Myanmar’s Transition to Democracy

By: Helene Maria Kyed,Ardeth Maung Thawnghmung

Legal pluralism in Myanmar is a reality that is not sufficiently recognized. A lack of recognition of and clear mandates for the informal justice providers, along with the absence of coordination between these providers and the judiciary, present critical challenges to local dispute resolution and informal legal systems. This results in a high level of unpredictability and insecurity concerning the justice outcomes and in the underreporting of cases. The lack of jurisdictional clarity represents an even greater challenge in areas of mixed control and where numerous armed actors are present. Discussion of reform of the justice sector in Myanmar and debates surrounding peace negotiations and the role of the ethnic armed groups in service provision are separated. This situation reinforces the divide between ceasefire areas and the rest of the country and raises concern that the improvement of justice systems will leave conflict-affected populations behind. Recognition of and support for community-based dispute resolution are crucial to reducing the escalation of conflict at the local level. Justice systems like those of ethnic armed groups can contribute significantly to stability and order at times when the official system has limited territorial reach and is mistrusted by civilians.

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ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute

Published Date

ISBN 10

9814843857

ISBN 13

9789814843850

Winning by Process

The State and Neutralization of Ethnic Minorities in Myanmar

By: Jacques Bertrand,Alexandre Pelletier,Ardeth Maung Thawnghmung

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Winning by Process

The State and Neutralization of Ethnic Minorities in Myanmar

By: Jacques Bertrand,Alexandre Pelletier,Ardeth Maung Thawnghmung

Winning by Process asks why the peace process stalled in the decade from 2011 to 2021 despite a liberalizing regime, a national ceasefire agreement, and a multilateral peace dialogue between the state and ethnic minorities. Winning by Process argues that stalled conflicts are more than pauses or stalemates. "Winning by process," as opposed to winning by war or agreement, represents the state's ability to gain advantage by manipulating the rules of negotiation, bargaining process, and sites of power and resources. In Myanmar, five such strategies allowed the state to gain through process: locking in, sequencing, layering, outflanking, and outgunning. The Myanmar case shows how process can shift the balance of power in negotiations intended to bring an end to civil war. During the last decade, the Myanmar state and military controlled the process, neutralized ethnic minority groups, and continued to impose their vision of a centralized state even as they appeared to support federalism.

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Page Count

210

Publisher

Cornell University Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

1501764543

ISBN 13

9781501764547

Beyond Armed Resistance

Ethnonational Politics in Burma (Myanmar)

By: Ardeth Maung Thawnghmung

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Beyond Armed Resistance

Ethnonational Politics in Burma (Myanmar)

By: Ardeth Maung Thawnghmung

This paper sheds light on the activities of non-armed members of ethnic minorities in Burma, insufficiently studied actors in the conventional study of ethnic politics in Burma that has long been dominated by a focus on ethnonational armed resistance groups and ceasefire groups. Focusing on the Kachin, Karen, Mon, and Shan ethnic groups, the study describes nine major economic, political, and geographical categories of civilian experience, followed by four contributions that non-armed members of ethnic minority groups may make to the political system: (1) supporting the status quo, (2) transforming or undermining the status quo, (3) promoting collective identity and culture and addressing humanitarian needs, and (4) helping to mediate ceasefire agreements. The study demonstrates the need to be aware of the full range of nonviolent political actions that exist among ethnic minority populations and argues that policy responses must look beyond the role of armed groups and become more sensitive to the needs of the diverse members of ethnic communities.

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ISBN 10

1932728988

ISBN 13

9781932728989

Everyday Economic Survival in Myanmar

By: Ardeth Maung Thawnghmung

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Everyday Economic Survival in Myanmar

By: Ardeth Maung Thawnghmung

Reforms in Myanmar (formerly Burma) have eased restrictions on citizens' political activities. Yet for most Burmese, Ardeth Maung Thawnghmung shows, eking out a living from day to day leaves little time for civic engagement. Citizens have coped with extreme hardship through great resourcefulness. But by making bad situations more tolerable in the short term, these coping strategies may hinder the emergence of the democratic values needed to sustain the country's transition to a more open political environment. Thawnghmung conducted in-depth interviews and surveys of 372 individuals from all walks of life and across geographical locations in Myanmar between 2008 and 2015. To frame her analysis, she provides context from countries with comparable political and economic situations. Her findings will be welcomed by political scientists and policy analysts, as well by journalists and humanitarian activists looking for substantive, reliable information about everyday life in a country that remains largely in the shadows.

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Page Count

309

Publisher

University of Wisconsin Press

Published Date

ISBN 10

029932060X

ISBN 13

9780299320607

Book's by Thawnghmung

The "other" Karen in Myanmar

The "other" Karen in Myanmar

Behind The Teak Curtain

Behind The Teak Curtain

The Karen Revolution in Burma

The Karen Revolution in Burma

The Significance of Everyday Access to Justice in Myanmar’s Transition to Democracy

The Significance of Everyday Access to Justice in Myanmar’s Transition to Democracy

Winning by Process

Winning by Process

Beyond Armed Resistance

Beyond Armed Resistance

Everyday Economic Survival in Myanmar

Everyday Economic Survival in Myanmar

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