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Myanmar: Becoming a failed state?

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  1. #1

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    Jun 2019
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    Myanmar: Becoming a failed state?

    Given the bloody protests in Myanmar over their military coup shows no sign of abating, there is a legitimate quesiton to be asked: Is Myanmar becoming a failed state? A failed state is when a state disintegrates, characterize for example, by a failure of the self-proclaimed governing entity to maintain a monopoly on legitimate violence (i.e. citizen no longer accepts exercise of power of the police and army), as multiple groups rise up in rebellion. The state would also be unable to provide basic service to its citizens, it will not be recognized as a legitimate member of the international community or cannot control the territory of its own borders.

    We are beginning to see aspects of all of the above in Myanmar. The military junta, the Tatmadaw, has so far failed to end protest (and armed rebellion in some cases) against their coup. Its only response is more brutal massacre of civilians. They have no other ideas how to get out of the crisis. The long-running conflicts with the ethnic minorities are also ongoing as well. So clearly, the military is losing its grasp on monopoly of legitimate violence. Basic government service is increasingly in doubt given the turmoil in the country. The UN representative of Mynamar has also thrown her support behind the protests, robbing international recognition of the legitimacy of the military.

    So would Myanmar end up like Syria, a failed state embroiled in a civil war?

    Last edited by Coolboy; 31-03-2021 at 09:20 AM.

  2. #2

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    Thank goodness that it didn't happen in HK!

    markranson likes this.

  3. #3

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    Quote Originally Posted by ramelec:
    Thank goodness that it didn't happen in HK!
    In HK, it's a "legal" coup. Permissible under the powers granted to the NPC. But was it the wise move...well...
    HK_Katherine and AsianXpat0 like this.

  4. #4

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    Complicating matters of course are geopolitical considerations. China and India are rivals and they are tussling over which can influence Myanmar the most:

    https://asia.nikkei.com/Spotlight/My...iness-of-China

    China and India aren't openly supporting the coup and subsequent crackdown, but they aren't calling for sanctions or return to democracy either. What does they say?

    Last edited by Coolboy; 31-03-2021 at 05:39 PM.