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4. The 1988 Uprising in Myanmar: Historical Conjuncture or Praetorian Redux?
- ISEAS–Yusof Ishak Institute
- Chapter
- Additional Information
4 The 1988 Uprising in MyanMar historical Conjuncture or praetorian redux? Tin Maung Maung Than The 1988 popular uprising that ended the Socialist era of political governance and state building in Myanmar had all the makings of a significant historical conjuncture1 that not only transformed the country’s political and economic systems as well as the nature of ethnic insurgencies but also brought Myanmar’s contentious domestic issues to the attention of the international community. It coincided with the emergence of the triumphant outlook of Western democracies capitalizing on the apparent democratic turn following the collapse of Leninist regimes in Europe and brought about the internationalization of Myanmar’s security, political and economic issues, premised upon liberal norms of human rights and democracy. The resulting polarized discourse on the country’s political and economic reform agenda became part of the contested legacy of the aborted “Four Eights Movement”2 representing the crest of the revolutionary tide seen by the counter elites as a harbinger of a new political order. However, the democratic aspirations were not realized and the movement’s 68 Tin Maung Maung Than momentum was quickly dissipated as the Tatmadaw (literally meaning royal force), or Myanmar armed forces, re-emerged as the principal steward of Myanmar’s destiny.3 Differing interpretations of that legacy by the military regime and its domestic and foreign detractors have led to divergent attempts of reproduction that have yet to be resolved. On the other hand, a more paranoid, autocratic and powerful regime than the deposed BSPP (Burma Socialist Programme Party) regime emerged in the aftermath of the 1988 uprising, premised on the perpetuation of the Tatmadaw control over political and economic spaces. However, the new constitutional order that took some two decades to become institutionalized through the 2008 Constitution has given some hope for an irreversible change in the political system. This chapter will attempt to identify antecedent conditions preceding the conjuncture and trace the bankruptcy of the BSPP state leading to the rupture in 1988. It will be shown that the apparent lessons learnt by the Tatmadaw leaders are at odds with the democratic aspirations of the new counter-elites that emerged from the conjuncture. Continuities are also found in agencies and structures dominating the political landscape and the political economy of post-1988 Myanmar. Even the domestic security dynamics that apparently took on a different paradigm with unprecedented ceasefire arrangements seems to be reverting back to the pre-1988 mode as tensions over old issues of autonomy and self-determination flared up recently after two decades of accommodation between the government and the ethnic armed groups.4 The chapter is divided into three parts. To appreciate the changes and continuities that manifested after the 1988 uprising (as highlighted in Table 4.1) the first part summarizes the development of Myanmar’s political ideology and structures and identifies the important players in the political process in the period “before” the conjuncture. The second part deals with the 1988 uprising itself, while the third part delineates the political structures and processes that evolved “after” the 1988 uprising together with specific examples of change and continuity. This approach is aimed at illustrating the changes in the political and economic system, civil society participation as well as modalities of managing internal security challenges and foreign policy implementation that followed the rupture of the state-society relationship in Myanmar brought about by the historical conjuncture of 1988. Some of these changes occurred fairly quickly while others took some two decades to evolve, while the dominating role of the military in politics continues. [3.81.144.39] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 14:53 GMT) The 1988 Uprising in Myanmar 69 Table 4.1 Myanmar: Changes and Continuities Pre-1988 upheaval (Burma) Post-1988 upheaval (Myanmar)* Political system Per 1974 Constitution (Const.74) Per 2008 Constitution (Const.08) and Government Single party (BSPP) rule; Multi-party competition; bicameral (break) unicameral parliament; voting to parliament; voters’ choice; exaccept or reject BSPP nominee; military personnel dominate the ex-military BSPP personnel executive at central & dominated executive, judiciary & provincial governments; executive legislature; Council of State Presidency (selection through (President) oversaw Cabinet electoral college of (Prime Minister) parliamentarians) Administrative Four-tier elected hierarchy: Three tier elected: central & two structure central, provincial, township, provincial levels; civil (change) village/ward; capital city: administration at district & Rangoon (per Const.74) township; capital city: Naypyitaw (per Const.08) Military Under BSPP control but dual High autonomy; Commander- (continuity; more role for all practical purposes; in...