Description:
Abstract: "This dissertation is a work of comparative political theory that draws
attention to how
religious beliefs can generate fundamentally different concep
tions of what is political.
I argue
that Theravāda Buddhism is the source of the conceptual framework within which most
Buddhists in Myanmar think about politics. Specifically, being embedded in the Theravāda
moral conception of the universe, Burmese Buddhists understand the politica
l as a sphere of
moral action, governed by particular rules of cause and effect. Within this framework Burmese
Buddhists vary as to their interpretation of particular concepts and the degree to which they
see Buddhist teachings as relevant to politics; how
ever, I demonstrate that this framework and
Buddhist conceptions of politics continue to be salient for contemporary political practice in
Myanmar. There are also variations between Theravāda Buddhism as it is practiced in Myanmar
and in other countries, a
s well as important differences in interpretation and emphasis among
Burmese Buddhists themselves. I examine these variations while also comparing Burmese
Buddhist political thought with other religious and cultural traditions.
Buddhism in Myanmar has pr
ovided a repertoire of ?raw materials” which people have
used to make sense of their political environment. These include a particular conception of
human nature, an understanding of the universe as governed by a law of cause and effect that
works accordin
g to moral principles, a conception of human existence as fundamentally
dissatisfactory, and the acceptance of a range of methods to overcome and escape its
dissatisfactory character. I explore how Burmese Buddhists have used these ideas in deploying
argum
ents regarding the nature of politics, the proper ends of politics, alternative conceptions
and methods of political participation, and a range of understandings of ?democracy.”
My
findings not only illuminate a relatively unexamined tradition of political
thought, they also help
us to understand some of the challenges facing a democratic tra
nsition in contemporary
Myanmar"
Source/publisher:
University of Washington thesis
Date of Publication:
2012-00-00
Date of entry:
2015-08-06
Grouping:
- Individual Documents
Category:
Language:
English
Local URL:
Format:
pdf
Size:
1.82 MB