Myanmar’s Youth and Their Voice: A Reference Note on Their Conscientization During the Transition (2010–21) and Subsequent Mobilization for a Federal Democratic Union
Francis Loh Kok Wah, author
Date of publication:
2026
Publisher:
ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute
Number of pages:
32
Code:
TRS12/26
Soft Cover
ISBN: 9789815361582
About the publication
- Myanmar’s youth, particularly the Gen Z, were at the forefront of publicly voicing disagreement with the military coup d’état that took place on 1 February 2021. The resistance movement rejecting the coup involved Bamar and non-Bamar, moved from urban centres to rural areas, and involved inputs and support from Ethnic Armed Organizations (EAOs), but especially from the youth and the new organizations they established in the wake of the 2021 coup.
- The prominent role of the youth in sustaining various anti-coup movements since 2021 has its origins in the exposure gained from the political and economic reforms introduced and implemented in the decade of transition from 2011 to 2021. The more expansive space for expression had had a significant impact on civil society, especially the youth.
- In that decade, the adoption of neoliberal economic policies had stabilized the Myanmar currency, leading to an influx of foreign direct investment (FDI) and official development assistance (ODA), and curbs on the “informal economy”, which all contributed to economic growth. This growth, driven by increased FDI and ODA, facilitated greater investment in electrification and the expansion of the IT industry, enabling greater access to information. Budget allocations also led to expansion and reforms in education for the first time since Burma’s independence in 1948.
- Access to alternative narratives and knowledge disseminated by the INGOs and local NGOs, and via the IT industry, further contributed to the consolidation of civil society.
- Since 2021, a form of decentralized administration has emerged with new local government (LG) laws that allowed for partial election of LG members, increased roles for LG authorities, and generated new interest in LG affairs. Youth voices and contributions have been important inputs for these nascent local government initiatives.
Contents
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Myanmar’s Youth and Their Voice: A Reference Note on Their Conscientization During the Transition (2010–21) and Subsequent Mobilization for a Federal Democratic Union
[Whole Publication, ISBN: 9789815361599], by Francis Loh Kok Wah, author
