Debating Democratization in Mayanmar

xiv + 395 pages ; 24 cm. Is Myanmar (Burma) democratizing, or is it moving towards a new form of authoritarianism, perhaps one more consonant with other contemporary authoritarian regimes in Asia?Coming at a critical time, and one of growing interest in this Southeast Asian country among researchers and policy-makers, Debating Democratization in Myanmar addresses this complex question from a range of disciplinary and professional perspectives. Chapters by leading international scholars and practitioners, activists and politicians from Myanmar and around the world cover political and economic updates, as well as the problems of democratization; the re-engagement of democratic activists and exiles in domestic affairs; the new parliament, the electoral system, and everyday politics; prospects for the economy; ethnic cooperation, contestation and conflict; the role of the army and police forces; and conditions for women. Together they constitute an empirically deep and analytically rich source of readable and relevant material for anyone keen to obtain a greater understanding of what is happening in Myanmar today, and why. Contents: Table of Contents; I: Foreword; 1. Myanmar Reforms Gathering Momentum by Winston Set Aung; II: Introduction; 2. Debating Democratization in Myanmar by Trevor Wilson; 3. Myanmar's Democratic Opening: The Process and Prospect of Reformn by Morten B. Pedersen; III: Encouraging Signs; 4. Myanmar 's Parliament: From Scorn to Significanceby Thomas Kean; 5. village Networks, Land Law, and Myanmar's Democratization by Tamas Wells and Kyaw Thu Aung; 6. Fom Exile to Elections by Than Than Nu; 7. Sidelined or Reinventing Themselves? Exiled Activists in Myanmar's Political Reforms by Kerstin Duell. 8. Understanding Recent Labour Protests in Myanmar by Kyaw Soe LwinIV: Anticipating Reforms; 9. Myanmar Economic Update: Macro-economy, Fiscal Reform, and Development Options by Anders Engvall and Soe Nandar Linn; 10. The Glass Has Water: A Stocktake of Myanmar's Economic Reforms: Exchange Rate, Financial System, Investment, and Sectoral Policies by Sean Turnell; 11. Police Reform in Myanmar: Changes ""In Essence and Appearance"" by Andrew Selth; 12. Electoral System Choice in Myanmar's Democratization Debate by Kyle Lemargie, Andrew Reynolds, Peter Erben, and David Ennis. V: Enduring Concerns13. The Continuing Political Salience of the Military in Post-SPDC Myanmar by Renaud Egreteau; 14. State Terrorism and International Compliance: The Kachin Armed Struggle for Political Self-Determination by Seng Maw Lahpai; 15. Engendering Development in Myanmar: Women's Struggle for San, Si, Sa by Ma Khin Mar Mar Kyi; VI: Conclusion; 16. Democratization, Violence and Myanmar by Nick Cheesman; List of Abbreviations; Index.…