BANGLADESH INSTITUTE OF INTERNATIONAL AND STRATEGIC STUDIES

State, Nationality and Political Elites: The Politics of Nationalism in Myanmar

Author: Abu Salah Md. Yousuf, D. Purushothaman

DOI Link: https://www.doi.org/10.56888/BIISSj2019v40n3a1

ABSTRACT

The unresolved tension between the state and nationality prevented resolution of nationalism debate in Myanmar since its independence and it embroiled the country into a long-term conflict between the dominant Bamar people and ethnic minorities. Theoretically, the state identity is based on a geographical boundary whereas national identity is a conscience of commonness on certain issues among the inhabitants of a state. Historically, in the post-colonial countries, political elites play a pivotal role to resolve the tension between these two identities for the formation of nationalism. In the context of Myanmar, as a multi-ethnic country, it was a challenge for political elites to accommodate all ethnic communities in same national identity, because the ‘divide and rule’ policy of the British colonials instigated tension between different races. However, under the leadership of General Aung San, almost all the ethnic communities signed the Panglong Agreement in 1947, where the right of ethnic minorities was recognised. But, following the assassination of Aung San, the initiative to accommodate minorities was reversed and the military takeover of 1962 led the country towards a long-term ethnic conflict. In this backdrop, present paper argues that instead of resolving tension between the state and nationality, the power elites of Myanmar have instigated tension between the two for securing dominant position in the country in different phases of the political history of independent Myanmar. The policies of power elites affected the formation of nationalism of Myanmar and still remains a challenge for the integration of the country.