Local Change and Global Recognition
Maaike Matelski
Bristol University Press
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© Maaike Matelski 2024
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ISBN 978-1-5292-3054-3 hardcover
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ISBN 978-1-5292-3056-7 ePdf
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Front cover image: Artwork by Dawei Lay
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Introduction: Contested Representation in Burma/Myanmar 1
- 1Conflict, Repression and Resistance from Colonialism to Military Rule 17
- 2Constructing Civil Society in Myanmar 31
- 3Diversity and Fault Lines in Burmese Civil Society 49
- 4Room to Manoeuvre under Authoritarian Rule 72
- 5Transnational Advocacy Strategies and Pathways to Change 90
- 6Competing Frames around the 2010 Elections 103
- 7Foreign Aid and the (De)politicization of Civil Society Assistance 117
- 8Interrupted Transition and Post-coup Resistance 136
Conclusion 157
| AAPP(B) | Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (Burma) |
| ABFSU | All Burma Federation of Student Unions |
| ABSDF | All Burma Students’ Democratic Front |
| AFPFL | Anti-Fascist People’s Freedom League |
| ALTSEAN | Alternative ASEAN Network (on Burma) |
| ASEAN | Association of Southeast Asian Nations |
| BBC | British Broadcasting Corporation |
| BCN | Burma Center Netherlands |
| BSPP | Burma Socialist Programme Party |
| BWU | Burmese Women’s Union |
| CBI | Capacity Building Initiative |
| CBO | community-based organization |
| CDM | Civil Disobedience Movement |
| CPB | Communist Party of Burma |
| CRPH | Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw |
| CSO | civil society organization |
| EAO | ethnic armed organization |
| EBO | Euro-Burma Office |
| EU | European Union |
| FBC | Free Burma Coalition |
| FTUB | Federation of Trade Unions of Burma |
| GCBA | General Council of Burmese Associations |
| GDP | gross domestic product |
| GONGO | government-organized non-governmental organization |
| HREIB | Human Rights Education Institute of Burma |
| ICC | International Criminal Court |
| ICG | International Crisis Group |
| ICJ | International Court of Justice |
| ICRC | International Committee of the Red Cross |
| IDP | internally displaced person |
| IIFFMM | Independent International Fact-Finding Mission on Myanmar |
International Labour Organization | |
| INGO | international non-governmental organization |
| KBC | Kachin Baptist Convention |
| KIA | Kachin Independence Army |
| KIO | Kachin Independence Organization |
| KNLA | Karen National Liberation Army |
| KNU | Karen National Union |
| LGBTIQ | Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex and Queer |
| MI(S) | Military Intelligence (Service) |
| MMCWA | Myanmar Maternal and Child Welfare Association |
| MP | Member of Parliament |
| MSF | Médecins Sans Frontières |
| MOU | Memorandum of Understanding |
| NCA | Nationwide Ceasefire Agreement |
| NCGUB | National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma |
| NDF | National Democratic Force |
| NGO | non-governmental organization |
| NLD | National League for Democracy |
| NUCC | National Unity Consultative Council |
| NUG | National Unity Government |
| NUP | National Unity Party |
| ODA | official development assistance |
| OIC | Organisation of Islamic Cooperation |
People’s Defence Force | |
| R2P | Responsibility to Protect |
| RNDP | Rakhine Nationalities Development Party |
| SAC | State Administration Council |
| SLORC | State Law and Order Restoration Council |
| SNDP | Shan Nationalities Democratic Party |
| SPDC | State Peace and Development Council |
| TNI | Transnational Institute |
| UEC | Union Election Commission |
| UK | United Kingdom |
| UN | United Nations |
| UNDP | United Nations Development Programme |
| UNICEF | United Nations Children’s Fund |
| US | United States |
| USAID | United States Agency for International Development |
| USDA | Union Solidarity and Development Association |
| USDP | Union Solidarity and Development Party |
| UWSA | United Wa State Army |
Women’s League of Burma | |
| YMBA | Young Men’s Buddhist Association |
| YMCA | Young Men’s Christian Association |
| YWBA | Young Women’s Buddhist Association |
| YWCA | Young Women’s Christian Association |
This book is dedicated to the people of Myanmar, and particularly the inspirational activists and civil society workers I was fortunate to meet during my research. It testifies to their courage, determination and strength, as well as their generosity even in times of extreme hardship. May your country see better days soon.
Special thanks to all the unnamed respondents in and from Myanmar who took time to talk to me in the course of this research. I am grateful for having met each of you and hope that you see your experiences reflected in this book. Thank you for your collaboration and sharing your insights.
I am fortunate to have a large support network inside and outside academia that provided feedback and distraction at appropriate times, so I will not attempt to name everyone here. A few persons deserve special mention, as this book would not have existed without them. Freek Colombijn supported my research at the Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam from the PhD application phase until the final version of this book. A big thank you to Freek, Oscar Salemink and Henk Schulte Nordholt for their supervision and all colleagues at the VU and elsewhere who proofread and provided peer support. Thanks also to the Anthropology Department and other institutes that helped to fund this research.
Rose Metro and an anonymous reviewer provided invaluable comments on the draft manuscript which helped to clarify my arguments. Aung Myo Hein, Myo Win, Seng Bu and Tun Lin Oo provided important feedback on the final chapter covering the post-coup period since 2021. Thank you to my various language instructors for teaching me about Burmese language and culture, and to the experts on Myanmar who took the time to provide guidance, especially in the early research phase. The growing Myanmar community in the Netherlands has been another source of inspiration and companionship, and I look forward to continue working with them.
Glen, my family and friends have been patient and supportive throughout the research and writing phases. Many thanks and love to you all.
Finally, I would like to thank Zoe Forbes, Stephen Wenham, Helen Nicholson and colleagues at Bristol University Press and Newgen Publishing for their professional support in the publishing process, and Dawei Lay for giving permission to use his beautiful artwork on the book cover.
Thank you, dank jullie wel, cezutinbadeh!
