ntroduction
Johan Lagerkvist
On May 8 and 9, 2008, the Swedish Institute of International Affairsconvened an international conference on Myanmar/Burma with ge-nerous sponsorship from the Swedish Ministry of Foreign Affairs.The conference took place only six days after cyclone Nargis the worstnatural disaster in Burmese history hit the lower Irrawaddy Delta onMay 2 with gusts of wind reaching 190 km/h. As of June 24, the of-cial death toll was 84,537 people and 53,386 people were reportedmissing. The number of people displaced by the calamity may be ashigh as 800,000.
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Despite the magnitude of the disaster, the Burmesejunta failed to act swiftly in the wake of the cyclone, revealing not onlythe juntas incompetence and contempt for the suffering of its people,but also its xenophobia as Burmese military rulers dragged their feet inissuing visas to foreign aid workers for fear of losing control over thepolitical situation in the run-up to the controversial referendum on thedraft constitution.ow is one to understand the continuing political impasse betweenBurma/Myanmar and the international community even in the face of such a large-scale tragedy? And what are the options available to theinternational community and multilateral and regional organizationsto facilitate a break away from this isolation? These questions werecentral to the conference held at the Swedish Institute in May. Leadingresearchers, diplomats, experts and practitioners in the eld gatheredto discuss available policy options for engaging the military junta inBurma, the role of Burmas big neighbors (including China, India, andthe ASEAN countries), and future prospects for a democratic transitionin Burma given the paranoid nature of its ruling military junta andlongstanding ethnic tensions between the ruling Burman majority andethnic minorities inside the country.n order to promote domestic change and reform, the internationalcommunity needs to adopt a richer insider perspective on variousBurmese interests, in particular one that includes assessments of therole of civil society organizations and associational life in Burma, sincethese have an important part to play in promoting change, reconcilia-tion and reform in the country. The international community shouldidentify, invest in and work with incipient civil society organizationswithin the country and support alternative channels of news and infor-
Table of Contents
Lagerkvist, J:
Introduction 5
Steinberg, D I:
urmas Mutipe Crises:Globalized Concerns and Myanmars Response 11
Babson, B O:
Future Policy Optionsor Mutiatera Engagement wit Myanmar/Burma 31
Chellaney, B:
romoting Political Freedomsin Burma: Internationa Poicy Options 57
Kivimäi, T:
an te Internationa CommunityHelp Prevent Conict in Burma/Myanmar? 85
Goshal, B:
Poitica Deveopmentsin Burma and Indias Strategic Interests11
Ni, X:
or Closer China U.S.Coaoration on Myanmar37
Storey, I:
hinas Manifold Interests in Burma:Resources, Marets an Strategic Location53
Haacke, J:
Comparing ASEAN Countries Effortsto Inuence Political Developments in Myanmar:Towards a New Regional Approach?73
Chachavalpongpun, P
:
Neither Constructive norEngaging: The Debacle of ASEANs Burmese Policy201
Lintner, B:
Te Staying Powerof the Burmese Military regime223
uo, :
Te Caenge o Etnicity to Nation Buiing253
Yawnghwe, H:
uti-Party Tas on Burma:Overseeing a Transition from Military Rule273
von Hauff, M:
Te Economic Deveopment o Burmaand the Sanctions against Burma An Assessment293
Oo. Z:
The Political Economy of Resource Cursein Burma:
mpications or Internationa Poicies
15
Sakhong, L H:
A Struggle for Democracy, Equalityand Federalism in Burma: An Ethnic Perspective35
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