Myanmar in crisis : living with the pandemic and the coup

Myanmar in Crisis brings together scholars from across the social sciences to analyse the dual crises of COVID-19 and the 2021 military coup. All of the essays address one of four themes around the concept of crisis: society in crisis, a state in crisis, an economy in crisis, and international relations in crisis. Several authors examine the contested nature of state authority in the post-coup revolutionary context, including the emergence of new governance dynamics; others discuss heterogenous forms of resistance and the potential for building a more inclusive, just, and tolerant society in the future of Myanmar. The volume also explores the economic crisis caused by the pandemic and the coup and its devastating effects on people's lives and livelihoods: the authors provide a deep dive into the impacts of restrictive COVID-19 prevention measures on local communities, the growing livelihoods crisis since the coup, and the impacts of both crises on foreign trade and investment. Scaling up from that local perspective, the book also looks at Myanmar’s history of foreign relations, the response of the international community to the coup and the challenges faced by foreign governments and regional bodies in navigating the deteriorating political situation. Held together, the volume highlights the ongoing state of crisis in Myanmar, its impact on society and the possibilities for recovery and reform, amidst a powerful new revolutionary movement. Beyond providing crucial insights to Southeast Asian area specialists, the book offers deep insights into the way that multiple crises interact, amplify one another, and open up possibilities for hope amidst tragedy. Contents Acknowledgements Contributors and Editors List of Figures Abbreviations and Key Terms Part I. Introduction 1. Myanmar in ‘Crisis’ Part II: On Crisis 2. Myanmar’s Post-coup Crisis: Reflections on a History of Failed Nation Building 3. The 2021 Military Coup: Causes and Consequences 4. Covid, Coup and Prisons: Exploring Crisis as Context in Myanmar Part III: A State in Crisis 5. Myanmar under Contested Military Rule 6. Contested Political Authority in Post-Coup Myanmar 7. The CDM and its Allies: Myanmar’s Heterogeneous Anticolonial Public(s) Part IV: An Economic Crisis 8. The Myanmar Economy, Covid-19 and the Military Coup: Issues and Prospects for Recovery 9. Pandemic Challenges of Fishers at Kyauk Myaung Segment, Irrawaddy River, Myanmar 10.The Destabilization of Myanmar: The Coup and its Impact on Economic Conditions and International Business Investment Part V: International Relations in Crisis 11. Neutralism or Non-Alignment: Myanmar’s Recurring Foreign Policy Dilemma 12. The Nature, Scope and Limits of International Responses to Myanmar’s Coup Part VI: Epilogue 13. On Disappointment and Hope: Myanmar Studies and the Multiple Crises Index