Burma: The Curse Of Independence By Shelby Tucker (2001-02-05)

The Burmese Civil War began 12 weeks after Britain granted Burma independence in 1948 and has continued ever since. This book defines its core causes for readers who are new to the subject or baffled by its complexities. It shows how Burmese "Herrenvolk" pretensions, the cou try's unresolved ethnic divisions, Japanese conquest exacerbating these divisions, political rivalry among Burmese nationalists prevented an orderly transfer of power. Aung San's assassination, the drugs trade, and the personal greed of Burma's military rulers have transformed the well-disciplined army of a wealthy colony into a ruthless instrument of an impoverished autocracy. Tucker draws on his experience as a trial lawyer to argue that Ne Win, and not the Burmese politician hanged for the crime, murdered Aung San, and that the junta is the leading player in the country's flourishing drugs trade. Media emphasis on the junta's record of human rights abuse, he suggests, tends to obscure a strategic interest in ending the trade shared by all major powers. He surveys various scholars' assessments of the prospect of the peaceful devolution of power to civilian rule and concludes by proposing measures for assisting change in Burma. Shelby Tucker's epic jungle trek with Burmese rebels described in his book," Among Insurgents: Walking Through Burma", convinced him that Burma's troubles, though complex, are not intractable The Burmese Civil War began 12 weeks after Britain granted Burma independence in 1948 and has continued ever since. This book defines its core causes for readers who are new to the subject or baffled by its complexities. It shows how Burmese "Herrenvolk" pretensions, the country's unresolved ethnic divisions, the Japanese conquest that exacerbated these divisions, political rivalry among Burmese nationalists, Aung San's assassination, the drug trade, and the personal greed of Burma's military rulers have transformed the well-disciplined army of a wealthy colony into a ruthless instrument of an impoverished autocracy.Tucker draws on his experience as a trial lawyer to argue that Ne Win, and not the Burmese politician hanged for the crime, murdered Aung San, and that the junta is the leading player in the country's flourishing drug trade. Media emphasis on the junta's record of human rights abuse, he suggests, tends to obscure a strategic interest in ending the trade. He surveys various scholars' assessments of the prospect of the peaceful devolution of power to civilian rule and concludes by proposing measures for assisting change in Burma.Shelby Tucker's epic jungle trek with Burmese rebels described in his book, Among Insurgents: Walking Through Burma, convinced him that Burma's troubles, though complex, are not intractable. 'Tucker is endlessly fascinating and well-informed on this little known region of Asia where the end of A Handful of Dust by Evelyn Waugh elides surreally into Paul Theroux's Mosquito Coast.' Times Literary Supplement 'Written with fluency and verve, the book has to be regarded as a standard work and is indispensable for understanding the travails of modern Burma.' John McEnery, author of Epilogue in Burma Burma offers the first up-to-date overview and understanding of Burma's tragic armed conflict in the twentieth century. Examining the 'causes' of the war, Shelby Tucker traces the political development of the country from the occupations by the British and Japanese and eventual independence in 1942, through the army coup of 1962 led by Ne Win, which established an authoritarian state, to the pro-democracy movement of the late 1980s. Tucker examines Burma's drug trade; scrutinises Burma's civil rights record; examines the role of the Nationalist leader Aung Seng, who attempted to unite the various sections of the population; the impact of Seng's assassination and subsequent power struggles; and considers the future for a government faced with armed opposition from separatist movements among the ethnic minorities of Burma's regions. The Burmese Civil War Began 12 Weeks After Britain Granted Burma Independence In 1948 And Has Continued Ever Since. This Book Defines Its Core Causes For Readers Who Are New To The Subject Or Baffled By Its Complexities. Tucker Draws On His Experience As A Trial Lawyer To Argue That Ne Win, And Not The Burma Politician Hanged For The Crime, Murdered Aung San, And That The Junta Is The Leading Player In The Country's Flourishing Drugs Trade. Media Emphasis On The Junta's Record Of Human Rights Abuse, He Suggests, Tends To Obscure A Strategic Interest In Ending The Trade Shared By All Major Powers. He Surveys Various Scholars' Assessments Of The Prospect Of The Peaceful Devolution Of Power To Civilian Rule And Concludes By Proposing Measures For Assisting Change In Burma.--jacket. The Burmese Void -- Geography And Ethnicity -- British Vs. Japanese Line-up -- We Burmans -- Aung San Triumphant -- A Hero's Death -- The Narcocrats -- The Kleptocrats -- Whither Burma? Shelby Tucker. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 237-261) And Index.

An up-to-date and detailed eyewitness account of Burma's Civil War. It is indispensable for understanding the travails of modern Burma.

Sound-off

You read (this book, find yourself discouraged for the future of this country, grasp for solutions and then start reading many chapters again. Buy the book, learn much more than you ever knew about Burma, and arrive at your own conclusions. Burma is extremely important to the USA or perhaps the reverse is true because of our large drug-user population. We would like to see a democratic, progressive government for these wonderful people but is that dream feasible? Read this book before you venture solutions.

International Studies Contents 5 Maps and Illustrations 6 Acknowledgements 10 Acronyms and Abbreviations 11 1. The Burmese 19 2. Geography and Ethnicity 26 3. British vs. Japanese Line-up 45 4. We Burmans 83 5. Aung San Triumphant 124 6. A Hero's Death 149 7. The Narcocrats 178 8. The Kleptocrats 203 9. Whither Burma? 216 Chronological Guide to the Burmese Civil War 236 Annotated Bibliography 255 Index 280 International Relations,Anthropology,Ethnicity,History,Human Rights,Imperialism,Third World & Development,Postcolonial Studies,Politics &Political Theory