NORTH EAST INDIA STUDIES PROGRAMME
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL SCIENCES
JAWAHARLAL NEHRU UNIVERSITY
Transition in Myanmar and Implications for India
Sanjay Pulipaka
East Asia Research Programme
Indian Council for Research on International Economic Relations, New Delhi
Myanmar’s political landscape is dotted with multiple faultlines. There is an ongoing tussle between the military and the pro-democracy activists. The pro-democracy activists have been calling for complete withdrawal of the military from the decision-making process. On the other hand, the military strongly opines that their continued presence in the decision-making process is critical for maintaining the unity and security of the country. There is ethnic conflict involving minority ethnic groups, which are demanding either greater autonomy or genuine federalism. The ethnic discontent has expressed itself in the form of an armed struggle since independence. In the recent past, the ceasefire agreements between major ethnic groups and the government have been concluded. Nonetheless, there is considerable distance to travel to ensure genuine peace and reconciliation. Sadly, the sectarian violence has increased in intensity resulting in a humanitarian crisis. Sectarian violence today in Myanmar not only has an impact on its domestic politics but is having an impact on regional politics as well. The trajectory of Myanmar’s political transition will be determined by the interactions between these faultlines. The proposed presentation will reflect on these faultlines and their impact on the political transition in Myanmar. In the process, the presentation will map implications of Myanmar’s political transition for India
DATE: February 23, Friday, 2018
TIME: 3:00 pm to 5:00 pm
VENUE: Room no.324, 3rd Floor, SSS-I, JNU
ALL ARE INVITED