Soaring Hopes in Myanmar’s Democracy Harvard Case Solution & Analysis

Soaring Hopes in Myanmar's Democracy Case Study Solution

Aung San Suu Kyi is the most famous politician of Myanmar, and her popularity is soaring. Her popularity has helped the country's democracy to take off, and she is a prime example of what can happen when a country has a political leadership in its midst. She has been able to take advantage of the current political situation, and has gained the support of many people, including the majority of the population.

Problem Statement

When the Myanmar military took power Monday, it was a devastating blow to the country's fragile push toward democracy. The coup was likely to undo the reforms the country has made over the past six years, a time when it was moving forward in the fight for political freedom.

Myanmar's National League for Democracy (NLD) party was the first civilian government to win elections in decades. Its victory was seen as a sea change in the country's political history. And, despite having little power, it had the confidence of the country's leaders.

Aung San Suu Kyi had become a symbol of hope to Myanmar's long-troubled people. She was a leader in a pro-democracy movement that called for peaceful democratic reforms. But the regime has also arrested dozens of journalists and critics, locked up tens of thousands of activists, and enacted some of the country's most unjust laws.

Myanmar has faced a legal threat from the International Criminal Court (ICC) over a suspected genocide. The ICC is looking into alleged crimes by the military in Rakhine state, including the killing of hundreds of thousands of Muslims. In October 2017, the country's neighbors launched an initiative to push the regime to move away from its abuses.

Since taking office in 2011, the USDP has pushed through a series of reforms. These have included a constitutional amendment that bars foreign spouses from holding top jobs.

Case Study Solution

Myanmar's fragile decade-long transition to democracy has suffered a catastrophic setback. A military coup triggered a nation-wide civil disobedience movement that has continued. The government has stepped up its crackdown, and the situation has worsened. Without political change, the country's economic and social problems will only get worse.

Aung San Suu Kyi, the de facto leader of the opposition, has become a national hero, as she calls for peaceful democratic reform. In the face of a crackdown by the military, she travels throughout the country, calling for free elections.

Despite the military's crackdown, a landslide election victory in 2015 was won by Aung San Suu Kyi's party. It won 86% of the seats in the legislature. Several observers called it a "remarkable" result. However, the party is not expected to win a majority, and it will begin with a disadvantage.

Min Aung Hlaing, a former general and current opposition leader, has had a frosty relationship with Suu Kyi. Since 2015, they have sparred over political issues. This could be an indication of what the United States should expect as the military begins to loosen its grip.

The National Unity Government has emerged in exile, in part to challenge the junta's control. However, there is also an armed wing of ethnic armed organizations. These groups are allied with the people's defense forces.

There are reports that the junta has been torturing civilians in its detention center. Also, there is an outbreak of the deadly Covid-19 virus, which has strained the country's impoverished healthcare system.

Porters Five Forces

The first anniversary of the military coup in Myanmar is approaching. This is a bleak time for the country's democracy, and the United States has a role to play. We can condemn the violence and provide support to civilians, while also creating a realistic path forward for a new era of political and economic transition in Myanmar.

We can also begin marshalling financial resources to support democratic forces in the region. Our goal is to help create conditions for constitutional democracy. But we should be prepared for the possibility of sustained military control.

If we don't take action, the situation will get worse. It could even put economic development in Myanmar at risk. China, the largest foreign investor in the country, is growing increasingly frustrated with the military government. And the conflict threatens to encroach on $2 billion in oil pipelines.

If we want to see an end to military rule in Myanmar, we must recognize and support the National Unity Government. It has the legitimacy to govern. Nonetheless, it lacks the administrative capacity to be effective.

We can also take steps to encourage civilian rule by using pressure to motivate civilians and by promoting voices of resistance. For instance, we should give more resources to the country's civil society organizations. Likewise, we should help rebuild institutions when the generals loosen their grip.

Aung San Suu Kyi, a leader of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD), has taken on the mantle of de facto head of state. Her party won an impressive landslide victory in the November elections. However, the military junta has used deadly force to suppress demonstrations.

PESTLE Analysis

In September 2016, US President Barack Obama visited Aung San Suu Kyi in Washington. He announced that Myanmar would be removed from the list of countries under the US's sanctions. However, there are concerns that the country's judicial system is still corrupt. This could hamper efforts to rebuild trust and increase foreign investment.

Aung San Suu Kyi's political party has also been a force in the nation's political process. It was the first democratically-elected group to be elected in 25 years.

There are various challenges to the National League for Democracy's (NLD) hopes for a rebirth. One of the biggest is making sure ethnic minority groups are represented in parliament. The government also needs to show that it is committed to human rights and freedom of the press.

Another challenge is the country's unique constitution. This makes it difficult for Suu Kyi to implement a progressive social agenda. Besides, the country's legal system has been bribed by the military in the past.

Other factors to consider are the cost of living, consumer confidence, and the rise of the gig economy. These are all contributing factors to lower consumer demand in the industry.

There are also challenges arising from a trade war between China and the United States. This can impact Global Business industry players by increasing protection levels.

Another challenge is the disparity between ethnic groups. There are about 135 officially recognized ethnic groups, with the largest being overseas Chinese, Animists, and Burmese. But there are other groups like the Kayin, the Bamar, and the Rakhine.

Financial Analysis

Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) won an overwhelming victory in the November general elections. While this is a welcome sign, it does not necessarily translate into a sigh of relief for the country's military government.

The military government has had a tough time implementing its strategy of mobilizing civilian militias, known as Pyusawhti, to battle the resistance. Their violence has also deepened popular disdain for the regime.

As a result, the country's internal security situation has deteriorated. More than a thousand people have been killed, including members of local ethnic armed organizations. Many of these groups have also become targets of resistance forces.

But the military's actions have also eroded Myanmar's economic position. Inflation is soaring and the country's currency, the kyat, is losing value.

Amid a brutal crackdown, Myanmar's judicial system has failed. The Emergency Provisions Act gave the military broad powers to arrest and hold people without charge. It also enabled courts to convict on minimal evidence.

Despite these setbacks, a nationwide civil disobedience movement has taken root. Hundreds of administrators have resigned in the last two months. Thousands of people have been arrested. There has been little legal recourse for victims of violence.

The United States should work to reaffirm its commitment to democratic values and marshal financial and other resources to support the NLD. In addition, it should deny the junta's legitimacy and take steps to stop the flow of weapons and arms to the junta.

Recommendations

In November 2015, Aung San Suu Kyi won a landslide victory in Myanmar's general election. Her party, the National League of Democracy, secured a supermajority of seats in the legislature. This marked the first elections in more than two decades in Myanmar. But despite the victory, the country's fragile transition to democracy has been stymied.

The junta's military leadership has been unable to quell the country's civil war. In the past five years, dozens of civilians have been killed. More than 1,200 people have been arrested by the military.

Despite the violence, the country's national civil disobedience movement has sustained itself. And the junta is reliant on it.

There are dozens of ethnic armed groups. Some of them have close ties to China and have been involved in illicit narcotics production. Historically, these groups have not worked together.

But if the United States wants to help push Myanmar's civilians forward, it must take a hard line on the junta. It must also encourage other nations to do the same.

Last week, the United Kingdom joined the United States and 11 European nations to condemn the Myanmar junta. Among the countries that joined the alliance were Canada, Australia, and New Zealand.

Although the military is the lawful ruler of Myanmar, its reign is marred by human rights violations and political inefficiency. For this reason, the Biden administration must continue to pressure the junta and support the voices of civilian resistance.

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