The Changing Politics and Geopolitics of Burma

Burma’s two decades-old alignment with China, which was always an uneasy one, is being reordered to better reflect Burmese national interests. In an attempt to reach out to the West, partial democratisation has been permitted. The military remains highly influential in Burmese politics, but its desire to avoid the pitfalls of over-dependence on Beijing, together with confidence that separatist movements pose a lesser threat than in the past, have led to a loosening of political control. It is now crucial to ensure that democratisation proceeds at a pace that Burma’s fragile polity can absorb, and does not lead to new internal conflicts.