Abstract
This article provides a comprehensive overview of the situation in Myanmar in the mid-1990s, covering its domestic politics, economy, and foreign relations. It analyzes the political landscape, dominated by the military junta known as the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), and its continued suppression of the pro-democracy movement led by Aung San Suu Kyi. The study examines the state of the economy, which was undergoing a partial and state-controlled opening to foreign investment but remained largely isolated and underdeveloped. The research then explores Myanmar's foreign relations, focusing on its controversial admission into ASEAN, its crucial relationship with China, and its strained relations with the West, which had imposed sanctions due to human rights abuses. The paper argues that Myanmar was at a critical juncture, with the military regime attempting to consolidate its power and achieve international legitimacy while facing persistent internal and external opposition. The analysis concludes by assessing the prospects for political and economic change in the country.
Full Text
By the mid-1990s, Myanmar remained under the tight grip of a military dictatorship, presenting a complex picture of political repression, cautious economic opening, and evolving foreign relations. This paper offers a holistic analysis of the country's situation at this time. The first part of the study is a detailed examination of the domestic political scene. It analyzes the strategy of the SLORC regime to entrench its power through the drafting of a new constitution that would guarantee a permanent political role for the military, while simultaneously keeping the democratically elected leader, Aung San Suu Kyi, under house arrest and suppressing the activities of her party, the National League for Democracy. The second part of the paper turns to the economy. It assesses the regime's policy of a limited "open door" to foreign investment, primarily from its Asian neighbors, and evaluates its impact on economic growth, which remained constrained by international sanctions and a lack of systemic reform. The third part of the analysis focuses on foreign relations. The most significant development discussed is Myanmar's impending entry into ASEAN, a move that highlighted the bloc's policy of "constructive engagement" in contrast to the West's policy of isolation and sanctions. The paper also examines the deepening strategic and economic relationship with China, which had become the regime's most important external supporter. The findings paint a picture of a country caught between military authoritarianism and external pressures for change.