I think this actually reflects why we've seen a coup now. Clearly, the coup has really brought serious economic devastation for the entire country and the military itself will also not benefit from this. And that to me is the key, because they're not primarily motivated just by economic incentives and spoils. As a systematic military institution, it is driven by their own identity. Their own perception of what the Myanmar modern nation state should look like.

Roger Lee Huang

A full transcript is available at www.democracyparadox.com or a brief primer on Myanmar here.

Roger Lee Huang is a lecturer in terrorism studies and political violence at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia and the author of The Paradox of Myanmar’s Regime Change.

Key Highlights Include

• A brief history of modern Myanmar (Burma)
• Description of the Tatmadaw
• A portrait of Aung San Suu Kyi
• Why is the National League for Democracy (NLD) so popular
• What are the prospects for democracy in Myanmar

Key Links

The Paradox of Myanmar's Regime Change by Roger Lee Huang

Myanmar’s Way to Genocide: The Rohingya Crisis in a Disciplined Democracy - Video Lecture by Roger Lee Huang

"The Generals Strike Back" by Zoltan Barany from Journal of Democracy

Related Content

Michael Miller on the Unexpected Paths to Democratization

Sebastian Strangio Explains the Relationship Between China and Southeast Asia

More from the Podcast

Myanmar: A Podcast Primer

More Information

Democracy Group

Apes of the State created all Music

Email the show at [email protected]

Follow me on Twitter @DemParadox

100 Books on Democracy

Support the show