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Photo of Elizabeth Rhoads with river in background

Elizabeth Rhoads

Senior lecturer

Photo of Elizabeth Rhoads with river in background

Beyond Federalism? : Inclusion, Citizenship, and Minorities Without Territory in Myanmar's Spring Revolution

Author

  • Aung Ko Ko
  • Elizabeth Rhoads
  • Nan Tinilarwin
  • Win Bo Aung
  • Yoon Thiri Khaing

Summary, in English

Myanmar’s unofficial minorities encompass diverse religious and ethnic groups excluded from Myanmar’s list of 135 officially recognised “national races.” They face exclusion due to their citizenship status as well as societal prejudices and entrenched discrimination against minority communities. Yet, debates over politics, federalism, and power-sharing in Myanmar primarily concern the relationship between the officially recognised ethnic minorities and the majority Bamar population. The Spring Revolution has opened the door to “rethink federalism,” suggesting that moving beyond historically entrenched binaries of unity or ethnonational federalism may be on the table. Understanding how unofficial minorities face discrimination and disenfranchisement as well as inclusion, is imperative in not only imagining a new political system following a successful Spring Revolution, but in expanding the revolutionary process. Yet, discussions related to minorities and diversity have centred on the pre-coup model of ethno-nationalist federalism as a post-revolution power-sharing arrangement. With minority rights tied to increased autonomy for minority-dominated territories, how do minorities without territory meaningfully participate in or benefit from the revolution? How can the recognition of Myanmar’s unofficial minorities – an estimated 10% of the population – be ensured? “Rethinking federalism” highlights relationships between territory, citizenship, and belonging in the Spring Revolution.

Department/s

  • Centre for East and South-East Asian Studies, Lund University
  • LU Profile Area: Human rights

Publishing year

2024

Language

English

Publication/Series

Journal of Contemporary Asia

Document type

Journal article

Publisher

Taylor & Francis

Topic

  • Law
  • International Migration and Ethnic Relations
  • Other Social Sciences

Keywords

  • Coup
  • minority rights
  • Muslims
  • political participation
  • religious minorities
  • taingyintha

Status

Published

Project

  • Tracing Citizenship and Displacement: New Faces of Statelessness in Myanmar

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISSN: 0047-2336