Myanmar in a PodShell

Myanmar is now in the fourth year of a new phase of civil war. Atrocities are being reported across various parts of the country. More armed groups have emerged, and for many, civil war has become a way of life. Discussions about the progress of the war, victories, and defeats are common. However, conversations about peace are rare. Myanmar in a Podshell wants to give peace some space because, after all, it is the ultimate goal of the revolution.

In this special edition of Myanmar in a Podshell, we talk to one of the best experts on ethnic minorities in the country: Martin Smith. Together with Martin, we analyse the current situation in Myanmar and the central and destructive role played by the junta, but also what historical and contemporary challenges this poses for different ethnic minorities.

In Myanmar, the resistance against the military has declared a Spring Revolution. This revolution aims for nothing less than the reinvention of the country. But the Spring Revolution is not the first revolution; it is one in a long line of revolutions - successful and failed - that Myanmar has seen. Episode 17 of Myanmar in a Podshell discusses the current revolution in contrast to previous revolutions.

So far, there has been no successful diplomatic initiative since the coup in Myanmar 2021. The international community is struggling to formulate a common position and seriously address the crisis. ASEAN, too, has failed with its five-point consensus. Myanmar in a Podshell discusses with the diplomats Charles Petrie and Scot Marciel the possibilities and limits of diplomacy in Myanmar.

Discussions are again being held on the repatriation of the Rohingya. History makes it clear that the vicious circle of displacement and repatriation could only be broken if more fundamental questions of citizenship and recognition were discussed. In this episode of Myanmar in a Podshell, we seek to discuss the situation of the Rohingya with a particular focus on the perspective from Bangladesh.

Civil war has been raging in Myanmar for almost two years now. The well-equipped military uses all means to break the resistance, but the resistance is unbroken. In this episode of "Myanmar in a Podshell", we talk about the conflict from a military perspective. What strategy is promising, what tactics should be used? And how will the conflict change in 2023?

In view of the ongoing political crisis in Myanmar, environmental issues and the climate crisis have been pushed to the margins of attention. Myanmar however is one of the world’s most climate-vulnerable countries facing cyclones, draughts just to name a few. Therefore, environment issues will have a massive impact on the country, its people and also its politics in the coming years.

History seems to be repeating itself in Myanmar. The 1988 uprising and subsequent military takeover has many parallels to the nationwide uprising and coup of 2021. Of course, parallels do not mean that there are also significant differences - the consequences of digitalization are the most obvious. Myanmar in a Podshell speaks with two historians to understand what is similar and what is different, and to answer the central question: Is it possible to learn from history?

The people of Myanmar are demanding justice. But there are different understandings of what justice is. The military government sees itself as the guarantor of law and order, but the resistance, the National Unity Government and the various ethnic groups see it as nothing but brutal despotism. They want to create a new law, a new rule of law, as part of their revolution. In a conversation with two researchers, we shed light on all these aspects of law and justice.

Myanmar has a long history of violence. There has been no period of nationwide peace since the end of the colonial era in 1948. With the coup d'état, the military has opened a new chapter in the conflict. We discuss what chances there are for genuine peace and what lessons should be learned from the failed peace attempts of the past.