Ethnicity and the Politics of Revolution in Myanmar The Fate of the Arakan Army
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Abstract
This article argues that because of the unresolved conflict between the state and ethnic groups that have existed in Myanmar since its independence, the country has been mired in a constant struggle between the majority Bamar population and ethnic minorities, which has led to the emergence of a plethora of peace processes whose efficacy is shaky at best. These tensions have endured for decades, and political elites have consistently played a significant role in raising identity issues to construct nationalism. However, nothing has been accomplished. This argument is supported by the nature of the peace process that government regimes have, at times, implemented to settle ethnic strife with the Arakan Army (AA) in Myanmar. The primary objective of this study is to examine the factors that impeded the peace process after 2011 and to identify how these influenced the behavior of the AA, especially in the wake of the latest coup in 2021. A qualitative research approach was used for this study because it congruously handled the research areas. The paper, within the framework of the British colonial strategy of "divide and rule," suggests that history has exacerbated ethnic animosity in Myanmar. Hence, political elites found it impossible to engage all ethnic groups in the nation-building effort. The nation's efforts to integrate minorities were thwarted following Aung San's death, culminating in decades of ethnic unrest. The article also considers the political atmosphere of each administration and, after the coup of 2021, the prospects for peace negotiations with the AA.
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