Book Cover
E-book
Author Steinberg, David I., 1928- author.

Title Burma/Myanmar : what everyone needs to know / David I. Steinberg
Edition 2nd ed
Published Oxford ; New York : Oxford University Press, 2013

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Description 1 online resource (xxxi, 245 pages) : illustrations
Contents Cover; Half-title; Title; Copyright; Dedication; Contents; Acknowledgments; Maps; Preliminary Notes; Introduction; 1. The Crises That Are Burma/Myanmar; What is Burma?; Why are we interested in Burma/Myanmar?; Why should we be interested in Burma/Myanmar?; What can we learn from Burma/Myanmar?; Why is learning about Burma/Myanmar so difficult?; What are the crises facing Burma/Myanmar?; 2. Important Residues from the Precolonial Period; How does Burmese history relate to contemporary events?; How did Burmese kings view governance and authority, and is this relevant today?
What were Burma's relations with internal peoples, regions, and neighboring states?What was the role of Buddhism in traditional Burma?; 3. The Colonial Era's Importance in Understanding Burma/Myanmar Today; What led to the three Anglo-Burman Wars of the nineteenth century?; What was the role of India in colonial Burma, what are its residual influences, and why are they important?; What economic development programs did the British introduce?; What was the role of Buddhism during this period and what social changes affected the society?
How did Burmese nationalism develop and what have been its effects?What was the impact of World War II on Burma, and what effect did the Japanese conquest have on Burma and its future?; How did the Burma army develop in the colonial period and under the Japanese?; How do the Burmese today consider the colonial era?; 4. Independence and the Civilian Government (1948-1962): Mixed Heritages; How did independence come about?; What was the role of Aung San?; How did Burma deal with the political and ethnic rebellions?; Why didn't Burma join the Commonwealth?
How did the Chinese nationalist incursion affect Burma?What were relations with the United States?; What were relations with China?; Was Burma communist or socialist, and what were the ideological influences on the society?; What were the government's plans for economic development?; What were the effects of the 1947 civilian constitution?; How did the AFPFL operate and govern?; What caused the military "Caretaker" Government, how did it function, and what was its legacy?; How did the minorities fare under the civilian government?; How did the 1960 elections affect Burma?
What caused the coup of 1962?How may we evaluate the civilian, democratic period?; 5. The Military Coup, the Socialist Period (1962-1988), and the Perpetuation of Military Rule; What were the effects of the coup?; What was the "Burmese Way to Socialism"?; How did the BSPP operate?; What was the impact of the socialist policies?; How were foreign relations under the BSPP?; How did the 1974 constitution come about and what was its impact?; How did the indigenous minorities fare under the 1974 unitary state?; How were monks registered?; How was citizenship defined?
Summary "Taking into account the dramatic changes the country has seen in the past two years--including the establishment of a human rights commission, the release of political prisoners, and reforms in health and education--David I. Steinberg offers an updated second edition of Burma/Myanmar: What Everyone Needs to Know. More than ever, the history, culture, and internal politics of this country are crucial to understanding the breaking headlines emerging from it today and placing them in a broader context. Geographically strategic, Burma/Myanmar lies between the growing powers of China and India, and has a thousand-year history as an important realm in the region--yet it is mostly unknown to Westerners. Burma/Myanmar is a place of contradictions: a picturesque land with mountain jungles and monsoon plains, it is one of the world's largest producers of heroin. Though it has extensive natural resources including oil, gas, teak, metals, and minerals, it is one of the poorest countries in the world. And despite a half-century of military-dominated rule, change is beginning to work its way through the beleaguered nation, as it moves to a more pluralistic administrative system reflecting its pluralistic cultural, multi-ethnic base"--Provided by publisher
Bibliography Includes bibliographical references and index
Notes Print version record
Subject Public administration -- Burma
HISTORY -- Asia -- Southeast Asia.
Colonial influence
Politics and government
Public administration
SUBJECT Burma -- Politics and government. http://id.loc.gov/authorities/subjects/sh85018125
Burma -- Colonial influence
Subject Burma
Form Electronic book
ISBN 0199981701
9780199981700
9780199981694
0199981698