Burma/Myanmar: Military Coup and State of Emergency: The Role of the Military in Driving Down Democratic Breakdown and Autocratization
Translated title
Burma/Myanmar: Military Coup and State of Emergency
Author
Cinzah, Vanlianthang
Term
4. term
Education
Publication year
2021
Submitted on
2021-10-11
Pages
107
Abstract
On February 1, 2021, General Min Aung Hlaing carried out a military coup against Aung San Suu Kyi’s democratically elected government in Burma by declaring a state of emergency. The coup deepened the political crisis and sparked widespread protests at home and abroad. This thesis examines how the military contributed to autocratization and a democratic breakdown after seizing power, why the 2021 coup occurred, and how the military sought to consolidate its political role. The study uses a case study approach and takes Robert Dahl’s seven conditions for polyarchy—a basic benchmark for electoral democracy focused on competitive elections and civil liberties—as its standard for “minimal procedural democracy.” The theoretical framework centers on three key terms: democratic backsliding (the gradual weakening of democratic norms), democratic breakdown (the collapse of democratic institutions), and autocratization (movement toward authoritarian rule). Data include interviews with two university professors, a Bamar expert and a non-Bamar expert. The thesis finds that the coup prompted a sudden, brutal democratic breakdown in Burma and transformed the country into a closed autocracy and military dictatorship. It halted a decade-long democratic experiment by dismantling democratic institutions: the democratically elected government was overthrown, and the bicameral Union Parliament and all 14 provincial legislatures were shut down. Since the coup, thousands of elected legislators, politicians, civil society leaders, journalists, and celebrities have been arrested, killed, or forced to flee the country. The research also finds that the military chief has tightened his grip on power: the 2020 elections were declared null and void, the retirement age for the military chief was scrapped, the state of emergency was extended, and he declared himself Prime Minister of the Provincial Government of Burma. The thesis concludes that Burma should address political differences through dialogue and establish a Federal Democratic Union based on the principles and spirit of the Panglong Agreement of February 12, 1947.
Den 1. februar 2021 gennemførte general Min Aung Hlaing et militærkup mod Aung San Suu Kyis demokratisk valgte regering i Burma ved at erklære undtagelsestilstand. Kuppet forværrede den politiske krise og udløste omfattende protester nationalt og internationalt. Dette speciale undersøger, hvordan militæret bidrog til autokratisering og et demokratisk sammenbrud efter magtovertagelsen, hvorfor kuppet fandt sted, og hvordan militæret forsøgte at konsolidere sin politiske rolle. Undersøgelsen er et casestudie, der bruger Robert Dahls syv betingelser for polyarki – en grundlæggende målestok for valgdelt demokrati med konkurrence og borgerlige frihedsrettigheder – som reference for “minimalt procedurelt demokrati”. Teorirammerne omfatter tre centrale begreber: demokratisk tilbagerulning (gradvis svækkelse af demokratiske normer), demokratisk sammenbrud (kollapset af demokratiske institutioner) og autokratisering (bevægelse mod autoritært styre). Datagrundlaget omfatter interviews med to universitetsprofessorer, en Bamar-ekspert og en ikke-Bamar-ekspert. Specialet finder, at kuppet udløste et pludseligt, brutalt demokratisk sammenbrud i Burma og forvandlede landet til et lukket autokrati og militærdiktatur. Det bragte et årti med demokratisk eksperiment til standsning ved at afvikle demokratiske institutioner: Den demokratisk valgte regering blev styrtet, tokammer-Unionparlamentet og alle 14 provinsparlamenter blev lukket. Siden kuppet er tusinder af valgte lovgivere, politikere, civilsamfundsledere, journalister og kendte blevet arresteret, dræbt eller tvunget på flugt fra landet. Forskningsresultaterne peger også på, at militærchefen har styrket sit greb om magten: Valget i 2020 er kendt ugyldigt, aldersgrænsen for militærchefen er afskaffet, undtagelsestilstanden er forlænget, og han har udråbt sig selv til premierminister for Burmas provinsregering. Specialet afslutter med, at Burma bør løse politiske uenigheder gennem dialog og etablere en føderal demokratisk union baseret på principperne og ånden i Panglong-aftalen af 12. februar 1947.
[This apstract has been rewritten with the help of AI based on the project's original abstract]
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