Myanmar’s challenges regularly make headlines. The efforts to reform the Myanmar Police Force remains a hopeful step forward in the transformation of the country’s security. The 2008 Constitution states that the Commander-in-Chief of Defense Services is the chief of all the armed organizations, and, as a result, the Myanmar Police Force remains under the Home Affairs Ministry, led by a military-appointed minister. Along with the democratic reforms since 2011, the force has moved towards a more decentralized, more gender and ethnic sensitive institution, still struggling to focus on control vs service-orientation. Currently, the police in Myanmar are severely overstretched to meet their mandate. Laws, regulation, strategies and training are outdated; facilities and equipment are old and often in poor condition by Southeast Asian and global standards. More disturbingly, the police are not present in some parts of the country where crime and related public security issues are most challenging. The police are facing increasingly sophisticated ethnic armed groups as well as transnational organized crime involved in drugs and human trafficking. The recent MIPS 2020 Annual Review on Peace and Security has highlighted some of these severe security challenges.
Compared to many countries, the virus has been slow to gain a proper foothold in Myanmar. As of mid-May 2020, the Ministry of Health and Sport website reported 181 cases of COVID-19 and 6 deaths nationwide. Although Myanmar has not officially detected a high number of active cases, the virus has already wreaked havoc on the economy and society as a whole. International financial institutions expect a slight decline in the GDP growth rate, but this can change dramatically if COVID-19 becomes widespread, causing severe disruptions and panic reactions. Should policy makers anticipate the worst-case scenario and prepare timely responses? Are the current responses hitting the mark?
In 2020, the World Economic Forum’s Gender Gap continues to find the largest gender disparity is—once again—the Political Empowerment gap. While countries across the board are making efforts to reduce the gap, Myanmar is behind all countries in ASEAN. Despite having successful and highly visible women across all sectors of the economy from the garment industry to education. Few Myanmar women are present in politics.
Myanmar is home to several minority ethnic groups seeking political, economic, cultural, and social recognition. In these pursuits, conflict has erupted and sustained for decades–as one of the world’s longest–manifesting in a variety of forms. Within these conflicts, the gendered impacts are multi-faceted and disproportionately tolling upon women and girls. As Myanmar heads to the polls again this year, violence could again re-emerge, keeping in mind that “Gender inequities exacerbate experiences of conflict, and responses that do not incorporate gender analysis exacerbate inequities”.
Linking science with policy is difficult in countries with top universities and well-funded research programs, but what about in developing countries?
In this Asia Research News Podcast, we delve into Doing Research in Myanmar: a systematic study of how social science research is produced, distributed and used in the country. We hear from the Global Development Network, the international organization leading this effort, and the Centre for Economic and Social Development, a think tank in Myanmar, which together have just released their report findings.
Listen in to learn about some of the highlights from the report, and hear those involved speak about it directly. We cover some of the key challenges and recommendations for social science in Myanmar and ensuring it informs policy in the evolving democracy.
Check out these related articles about GDN and IDRC’s work in the Asia Research News magazine:
Finding levers of change Highlights findings from Doing Research assessments in Myanmar, Bolivia, Indonesia and Nigeria.
Sparking change through research Social scientists in Myanmar seeking to understand the factors that influence women’s participation in politics and the economy are finding that, before they can study, first they must inform.
Increasing gender equality in an evolving democracy Researchers on the ground in Myanmar are investigating how women can get more involved in policymaking to ensure their voices are heard and needs are met as the nation embraces democracy.
June 17, 2020. Dr. Alex Pelletier & Dr. Jacques Bertrand.
Myanmar’s 2008 Constitution established a more decentralized structure, with partially elected sub-national governments with new financial and administrative functions. Since the 2011 transition and the 2015 civilian-led rule, the Myanmar government continues the working with the 2008 Constitution–rather than replacing it—while pledging to decentralize key areas of policy to local and state governments. As the 2020 election looms now in the horizon, it is time to take stock of how decentralization has advanced in the country.
What is the role of political representation by ethnic parties in a multi-ethnic state? What is the role of women as part of a society-wide transformation?
The government of Myanmar and the Ethnic Armed Organizations are key parties to a formal Peace Process. They are negotiating ‘basic federal as well as democratic’ principles for the country. In October 2015, all parties agreed that these principles would constitute the Union Accord, the basis to amend all laws–including the 2008 Constitution. Under the current government (2015-2020), no major constitutional change has taken place. The Peace Process remains the most plausible path to amend the constitution, end the armed conflict and lead to a multi-ethnic, federal and democratic Myanmar.
A team of young researchers, publishing anonymously, carried out a series of focus group discussions and key informant interviews in Aug-Oct 2021, to understand youth conceptions of ‘freedom of expression’ in the online world, and how this was being… Read more: Cyberspace and Freedom of Expression in Post-Coup Myanmar
Dangerous Channels, led by Intellectum Research, explores how online misinformation and hate speech distort Myanmar’s social and political landscape. (January 2024) By Intellectum Research Consortium. MYANMAR DIGITAL RESEARCH 01 Watch the video Abstract This study aims to raise awareness… Read more: Dangerous channels: Misinformation and hate speech on Telegram in post-coup Myanmar
Linking science with policy is difficult in countries with top universities and well-funded research programs, but what about in developing countries? In this Asia Research News Podcast, we delve into Doing Research in Myanmar: a systematic study of how… Read more: Doing Research in Myanmar Report
The University of British Columbia created explainer videos with the aid of a grant from the IDRC’s Knowledge for Democracy (K4DM) initiative. Watch: What are civil-military relations? Watch: What does it mean to be stateless?
Migrant workers are heroes of Myanmar’s economy, but are facing extreme challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. Myanmar’s Centre for Economic and Social Development recommends policies to address the crisis. Video created in English and Myanmar to promote a CESD… Read more: Heroes falling through the cracks
Nyi Nyi Kyaw is IDRC’s Research Chair on Forced Displacement at The Regional Center for Social Science and Sustainable Development (RCSD) at Chiang Mai University in Thailand. Here he talks about his background and his work on forced displacement.… Read more: IDRC Research Chair on Forced Displacement – Nyi Nyi Kyaw
The University of British Columbia created explainer videos with the aid of a grant from the IDRC’s Knowledge for Democracy (K4DM) initiative. Watch: What are civil-military relations? Watch: What does it mean to be stateless?
(This article was originally posted on the International Development Research Centre website in English and French. Contributors: Edgard Rodriguez, lead officer, K4DM initiative, IDRC; and Kundan Mishra, senior program officer, IDRC.) In 2025, Thailand adopted a landmark policy, granting Myanmar nationals living in temporary shelters and border areas the legal right to work outside refugee…
Written by the SecDev Foundation The Knowledge for Democracy Myanmar (K4DM) initiative is releasing three new studies that explore the digital tools being used to combat authoritarianism, and the state of awareness on online fraud and other cyber crimes. “Governance in exile: Examining the National Unity Government’s digital services efforts in Myanmar” analyzes the challenges…
Written by the SecDev Foundation The Knowledge for Democracy Myanmar (K4DM) initiative continues to publish exciting research exploring the intersection of the digital world with politics and resistance in Myanmar. The below collection of articles from independent Myanmar researchers reflect the complexities and challenges of ‘doing politics’ in the digital age: “Targeted identities: Cyberbullying and…
Written by the SecDev Foundation The Myanmar military’s March 2021 coup and subsequent crackdown spawned headlines around the world focused on street protests, civil disobedience, ethnic tensions, and the subsequent armed resistance and refugee crises. The coup erased years of social, political and economic progress. Lost amongst these many setbacks was a small but significant…
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(This article was originally posted on the International Development Research Centre website in English and French. Contributors: Edgard Rodriguez, lead...
Written by the SecDev Foundation The Knowledge for Democracy Myanmar (K4DM) initiative continues to publish exciting research exploring the intersection...
Dangerous Channels, led by Intellectum Research, explores how online misinformation and hate speech distort Myanmar’s social and political landscape. (January...
