15 Minutes To ReadMesua Ferrea (pseudonym) unveils the intricate interplay of art and revolution. Art, when oppression looms, transcends advocacy to become a revolution of its own, and revolution, in its essence, is […]
Tags: art, democracy, human rights, media, resistance
May 21, 2026
9 Minutes To ReadStudents from Dagon University take part in a demonstration against the military coup in Yangon, Myanmar, February 5, 2021. REUTERS/Stringer. Myo Min explores how the political role of students’ unions […]
Tags: activism, democracy, National League for Democracy (NLD), youth
January 21, 2026
9 Minutes To ReadHtet Hlaing Win contends that effective environmental campaigns in Myanmar are not possible until a dramatic change in political arrangement occurs.
Tags: Aung San Suu Kyi, borderlands, China, climate change, democracy, environment, ethnic armed groups (EAOs), fossil fuels, military coup, military junta, Min Aung Hlaing, National League of Democracy (NLD), National Unity Government (NUG), Ne Win, State Administration Council (SAC), sustainability, Three Brotherhood Alliance, U Nu, urban planning, Yangon City Development Committee (YCDC)
January 2, 2025
8 Minutes To ReadSteven (pseudonym) examines the future implications of addressing gender inequalities in Myanmar.
Tags: constitutional politics, constitutional reform, democracy, elections, electoral politics, equality, gender, gender inequality, Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH)
December 18, 2024
16 Minutes To ReadMyo Min outlines the hidden consequences of people’s commitment to minorities within minorities, such as the Rohingya.
Tags: : federal democracy, All Burma Federation of Student Unions (ABFSU), Arakan Army (AA), Bamar People's Liberation Army (BPLA), Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), democracy, equality, ethnic armed groups (EAOs), ethnic minorities, federalism, human rights, military coup, Myanmar National Democratic Alliance Army (MNDAA), National Unity Government (NUG), nationalism, People’s Representatives Committee for Federalism (PRCF), Rohingya, Ta’ang National Liberation Army (TNLA), Tatmadaw
October 29, 2024
11 Minutes To ReadCharlie Artingstoll, Maha See, and Eolene Boyd-MacMillan explore a range of mental health challenges for Myanmar and identify where action is needed to increase mental health and psychosocial support.
Tags: civil war, democracy, mental health, military coup, National Unity Government (NUG), Psychological First Aid (PFA), psychology, therapy
March 20, 2024
4 Minutes To ReadMay Ying (pseudonym) explores unique challenges in building climate advocacy in conflict-torn Myanmar.
Tags: Azerbaijan, China, climate change, community, conflict, COP28, democracy, environment, environmental activists, Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), forests, Kachin State, Myitsone, Thein Sein, youth activism
February 27, 2024
6 Minutes To ReadShalini Perumal explores Myanmar women artists’ roles in times of political upheaval.
Tags: art, artists, democracy, gender, photography, revolution, women
February 12, 2024
7 Minutes To Read Rio Kevin and Dr. Abellia Anggi Wardani examine the relations between education and sustainable democracy in Myanmar.
Tags: academic freedom, coup, democracy, National League for Democracy (NLD), saffron revolution
December 20, 2023
5 Minutes To ReadPhoenix (pseudonym) argues that Burma’s current model of teacher-student relations limits debate.
Tags: buddhism, democracy, university
January 5, 2023
9 Minutes To ReadRosalie Metro discusses how Myanmar government textbooks can be used in innovative ways.
Tags: democracy, history, peace
September 5, 2022
4 Minutes To ReadUpcoming event: The Future of Federalism and Political Decentralization in Myanmar (November 12, 9-11am EST/ 8:30-10:30pm MMT) The military coup in Myanmar prompted a quick shift by major ethnic Burman […]
Tags: decentralization, democracy, event, federalism, IDRC, myanmar
November 5, 2021
7 Minutes To ReadSuzana (pseudonym) writes a letter to her friend who has been arrested and imprisoned.
Tags: democracy, human rights, Insein
August 30, 2021
4 Minutes To ReadIn Part 2 of a 3-part series by Real Stories Not Tales (RSNT), Ko Democracy (pseudonym) tells us how the coup has affected his life and his loved ones in Myitkyina.
Tags: democracy, Kachin, Myitkyina, National League for Democracy (NLD), National Unity Government (NUG), Real Stories Not Tales (RSNT)
August 19, 2021
9 Minutes To ReadKhine, Nway Oo, and Peter (pseudonyms) express what they stand to lose in Myanmar’s Spring Revolution and why they continue the fight.
Tags: constitution, democracy, military coup, protest, Spring Revolution
April 27, 2021
7 Minutes To ReadZung Ring (pseudonym) argues that the revolution’s outcome depends on bold decisions and effective leadership.
Tags: Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), democracy, ethnic armies, military coup, National League for Democracy (NLD)
April 21, 2021
6 Minutes To ReadAdam E. Howe reflects on the coup as an attempt to establish a Thai-style “disciplined democracy”.
Tags: Aung San Suu Kyi, authoritarianism, democracy, military coup, Min Aung Hlaing, Rohingya, Thailand
March 30, 2021
6 Minutes To ReadMyo Min outlines the potential and limitations of anti-coup protesters’ solidarity with the cause of the Rohingya.
Tags: buddhist nationalism, Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), democracy, ethnic minorities, military coup, nationalism, Rohingya
March 25, 2021
13 Minutes To ReadHelene Kyed argues that multiethnic unity is paramount for the success of civilian resistance to the military. Author’s Note This article was written in collaboration with researchers from the Nyan Corridor, […]
Tags: Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), Committee Representing Pyidaungsu Hluttaw (CRPH), democracy, Generation Z, National League for Democracy (NLD), youth
March 19, 2021
3 Minutes To ReadBella Aung calls for recognizing minorities’ contributions to ongoing anti-coup protests.
Tags: Aung San Suu Kyi, democracy, ethnic conflict, ethnic minorities, Min Aung Hlaing
March 16, 2021
5 Minutes To ReadMatt Venker, Nicole, and Ma Ei Ei consider the role that foreign researchers can play in the critical time after the coup.
Tags: activism, Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM), democracy, research
February 10, 2021
14 Minutes To ReadMatthew Arnold discusses the importance of seeing Myanmar as a country undergoing normalization.
Tags: Aung San Suu Kyi, democracy, governance, Karen National Union (KNU), National League for Democracy (NLD), transition, Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP)
September 17, 2020
6 Minutes To ReadEdgard Rodriguez considers the role of investing in think tanks to support Myanmar’s ongoing reforms.
Tags: democracy, development, policy, research
February 26, 2020
10 Minutes To ReadMarie Puyessegur explores events in part one of a three-part series conducted as part of the MEMORY! Heritage Film Festival, an annual event in Yangon.
Tags: censorship, democracy, film, freedom of expression, journalism, media, Yangon
April 29, 2019
8 Minutes To ReadU Pe Aung Lin is the chairman of the Myanmar Center to Empower Regional Parliaments (MCERP). This post is a transcript of a conversation with Mael Raynaud, the Head of […]
Tags: decentralization, democracy, National League for Democracy (NLD), parliament, states and regions
March 25, 2019
10 Minutes To ReadThiha Wint Aung explains why responding to the Arakan Army (AA) with full military might would be counterproductive.
Tags: Arakan Army (AA), China, democracy, National League for Democracy (NLD), Rakhine State, Tatmadaw
February 5, 2019
7 Minutes To ReadDarcy Moffatt discusses how the criminalisation of journalists robs Myanmar of press freedom.
Tags: censorship, democracy, journalism, press freedom
November 7, 2018
7 Minutes To ReadClaire Allen considers an education curriculum based on critical thinking.
Tags: democracy, educational reform
11 Minutes To ReadJesse Hartery discusses some of the legal and constitutional changes in Myanmar over the last year. Editor’s Note This post is part of Tea Circle’s “2018 Year in Review” series, which looks back […]
Tags: constitutional reform, democracy, law, National League for Democracy (NLD), Panglong Conference, Year in Review
May 24, 2018
5 Minutes To ReadVeronica Collins argues that a museum run by former political prisoners showcases the lasting impact of state brutality on Burmese society.
Tags: democracy, human rights, justice, museum, political dialogue, political prisoners, Year in Review
May 23, 2018
5 Minutes To ReadAye Thein argues that the NLD government is taking a sledgehammer approach to the issue of freedom of assembly in Myanmar.
Tags: democracy, freedom of speech, National League for Democracy (NLD), parliament, protest, public spaces
March 26, 2018
6 Minutes To ReadRenaud Egreteau argues that potential dissidents within the NLD are unlikely to gain influence.
Tags: Aung San Suu Kyi, democracy, National League for Democracy (NLD), parliament
March 1, 2018
9 Minutes To ReadMael Raynaud considers the enduring legacy of a key figure in Myanmar’s transition.
Tags: democracy, reform, transition
January 2, 2018
4 Minutes To ReadAileen Thomson reflects on commemorations of the pro-democracy struggle.
Tags: democracy, justice, memory, saffron revolution
September 21, 2017
6 Minutes To ReadCourtney Wittekind reviews a new book on Buddhism and political thought by Matthew J. Walton.
Tags: Book Review, buddhism, democracy, morality, political dialogue
June 2, 2017
8 Minutes To ReadEMReF researchers consider the role of Myanmar’s local parliaments.
Tags: civil society, democracy, federalism, law, research
May 17, 2017
5 Minutes To ReadT. F. Rhoden reviews Renaud Egreteau’s new book on Burmese politics and the praetorian side of democratization.
Tags: Book Review, democracy
February 6, 2017
9 Minutes To ReadMael Raynaud continues his look at elite politics in Myanmar. Part One can be found here.
Tags: Aung San Suu Kyi, colonialism, democracy, saffron revolution
February 2, 2017
9 Minutes To ReadMael Raynaud explores elite dynamics in Myanmar’s social structure.
Tags: Aung San Suu Kyi, colonialism, democracy, saffron revolution
January 30, 2017
6 Minutes To ReadReshmi Banerjee reviews Nehginpao Kipgen’s new book on Myanmar’s transition.
Tags: Book Review, democracy
January 26, 2017
9 Minutes To ReadAung Tun and Matthew Walton comment on a recent statement by the State Sangha Maha Nayaka Committee.
Tags: buddhism, democracy, ethnic politics, MaBaTha, religion
July 29, 2016
7 Minutes To ReadMael Raynaud discusses the legacy of the Panglong Conference on Myanmar’s politics.
Tags: Aung San Suu Kyi, constitutional reform, democracy, ethnicity, federalism, Panglong, peace
July 22, 2016
3 Minutes To ReadBertil Lintner contemplates a way forward for Myanmar’s peace process.
Tags: democracy, ethnic minorities, ethnicity, National League for Democracy (NLD), Panglong, peace process
July 8, 2016
3 Minutes To ReadBertil Lintner contemplates a way forward for Myanmar’s peace process.
Tags: democracy, Democratic Karen Buddhist Army (DKBA), ethnicity, Kachin Independence Army (KIA), National League for Democracy (NLD), Panglong Conference, peace
July 6, 2016
4 Minutes To ReadReshmi Bannerjee reviews a new book on Myanmar’s transition.
Tags: Book Review, democracy, reform
May 14, 2016
4 Minutes To ReadTea Circle features the fourth and final installment of our series summarizing the recent workshop, “Towards Democracy and Reconciliation: Challenges Facing Myanmar’s Incoming Government.”
Tags: democracy, displacement, election, ethnicity, peace, transition
March 4, 2016
4 Minutes To ReadIn Part 3 of our 4-part series, Tea Circle summarizes the recent workshop, “Towards Democracy and Reconciliation: Challenges Facing Myanmar’s Incoming Government.”
Tags: democracy, development, international aid, militarization, National League for Democracy (NLD), religious conflict, transition
March 3, 2016
4 Minutes To ReadTea Circle features Part 2 of our 4-part series summarizing the recent workshop, “Towards Democracy and Reconciliation: Challenges Facing Myanmar’s Incoming Government.”
Tags: democracy, energy, environment, land reform, sustainable development
February 28, 2016
4 Minutes To ReadTea Circle summarizes the recent workshop, “Towards Democracy and Reconciliation: Challenges Facing Myanmar’s Incoming Government.”
Tags: democracy, governance
February 24, 2016
7 Minutes To ReadRasmus Schjoedt considers the implications of the elections on Myanmar’s political transition.
Tags: democracy, rule of law, transition
February 19, 2016