Surveying public opinion in Burma

Griffith Asia Institute
Published
For years, decades even, professional Burma watchers, activists and other commentators have been making assessments about developments in Burma (Myanmar) on the basis of very little hard information. Government statistics could not be trusted, official spokesmen rarely gave away anything of value and the state-run press largely peddled propaganda. Reports generated outside Burma were often […]

Should Burma participate in UN peacekeeping?

Griffith Asia Institute
Published
A few months ago, several activist organisations expressed outrage at reports that the UN had invited Burma (Myanmar) to participate in peacekeeping operations (PKOs). The furore has since died down, but Naypyidaw’s critics are reasserting themselves in a number of ways and the question will doubtless arise again. With that in mind, it is helpful […]

Burma puts its stamp on the world

Griffith Asia Institute
Published
When subjects like soft power and public diplomacy are discussed in forums, few people have postage stamps in mind, but there has long been a close connection between philately and foreign policy according to Dr Andrew Selth in a recent post for the Lowy Institute’s Interpreter. Read the full article here.

When Aung San Suu Kyi comes to call

Griffith Asia Institute
Published
At one level, Aung San Suu Kyi’s visit to Australia last week was all high praise, inspiring speeches and standing ovations. At another level, it was hard-headed politics, diplomatic signals and muted criticisms. At times, history was simplified or re-written to suit the occasion. In other words, there were no surprises and on all sides […]

Bombings in Burma: the long view

Griffith Asia Institute
Published
The recent spate of terrorist bombings in Burma has not injured many people or caused much property damage, but it is a reminder of the country’s multi-faceted internal security problems. Dr Andrew Selth comments further in a recent opinion piece in the Lowy Institute’s Interpreter. Read the full article here.

Burma: two WMD developments

Griffith Asia Institute
Published
Dr Andrew Selth discusses two developments in the long-running saga of Burma’s reported interest in acquiring weapons of mass destruction in an opinion piece in the Lowy Institute’s Interpreter. Read the full article here.

Risk and reward with Burma’s security sector

Griffith Asia Institute
Published
The initiatives for closer ties between the West and Burma’s police and armed forces, summarised in a previous post, have aroused the ire of the activist community, which has been quick to remind everyone that the armed forces still dominate politics in Burma, according to Dr Andrew Selth in a blog posted on the Lowy […]