Description:
Abstract: "The demonstrations in September 2007 were the most significant civil
protests seen in Burma since the ill-fated pro-democracy uprising of 1988.
The military government?s brutal response to the latest unrest prompted an
unprecedented level of diplomatic activity and a rare consensus on the need
for political change. Since then, however, efforts to resolve the crisis have
withered away, underlining the international community?s inability over the
past 20 years to make a significant impact on the situation in Burma.
Neither the principled approach of some countries and organisations, nor
the more pragmatic attitude adopted by others, has persuaded the regime to
abandon any of its core positions. Indeed, by demonstrating the international
community?s continuing disagreement over Burma, and the limited
policy options available, the lack of concerted action since the protests has
probably encouraged the regime?s obduracy and increased its confidence
that it can survive external pressures. An appreciation of the generals? threat
perceptions may help the international community to understand the
regime?s intransigence, but it is still difficult to see what policies can be
effective against a government that puts its own survival before accepted
norms of behaviour and the welfare of its people. Real and lasting change
will have to come from within Burma itself, but the events of 2007 suggest
that this is a distant prospect."
Source/publisher:
Australian Journal of International Affairs Vol. 62, No. 3, pp. 281-297,
Date of Publication:
2008-09-00
Date of entry:
2009-02-15
Grouping:
- Individual Documents
Category:
Language:
English