by Hisyam Hj Basabah, National University
of Malaysia
INTRODUCTION
Myanmar
or formerly known as Burma was first recognized as a country located in
Southeast Asia borders with India at the west, China at the north, Thailand at
the east and is located in shorelines Andaman Sea in the south. The capital
city of Myanmar at some point is the exchange name Rangoon to Yangon before moved
to Nyapithaw. Exchange name of Burma to Myanmar than has been done by the
General of Saw Maung on 18th June 1989 to erode the Myanmar in
response to the nation's only controlled by once sake only. The majority of
peoples in Myanmar is inhabited by those who embraced Buddhism and majority in
Myanmar is ethnic of Burmese but there are also others such as the Muslim
Rohingya ethnic as a minority, which at present denied their rights as citizens
and oppressed by the government of Myanmar. Myanmar is one of a former British
colony and a member of Commonwealth country which gained independence from the
British in 1948.
SISTEMIC
FACTOR
This
writing will discuss the revival of democratization in Myanmar with regard to
the approach adopted by neo- realism which saw international structural or
systemic influence as a major actor influencing the rise of democracy in
Myanmar . Even neo- realism emphasizes
state actor as a main actor , this approach is also saw other actors are
important in the anarchical international system. Under neo- realism approach, emphasis
on theory Level of Analysis indicated by Kenneth Waltz likely to provide an
accurate description of how the rise of democracy in Myanmar occur. In this
case, even though Myanmar (state ) is seen as the main actor, international
structural or systemic influences also play a role in the rise of democracy in
Myanmar . As a country once under the rule of the military junta before the
2010 elections , Myanmar is seen as a radical state that closed door policy and
practice patterns of autocratic rule. Policies that push people and passive
participation in the international system as well as human rights violations
makes Myanmar belong to the undemocratic countries . Through the approach of
neo-realism, the values of democracy are accepted as the common value of the
international community has provided some of the pressure on Myanmar to raise
democracy in Myanmar after 50 years under the rule of the military junta .
The revival democratization in
Myanmar lately especially since 2012, have a systemic role between US and
China. US give the fully supports to new government in Myanmar that pro
democracy and pro-democracy party led by Suu Kyi is pro US .Junta had a good
relations with China and during their ruling, Junta had a fully support from
China and built the close relation with China. The effects of close relations
between Junta and China, Myanmar allowed for China built their military base in
Myanmar. So, US not comfort with the situation because they are worried if
China raise their arms force and using the strategic area in Bay of Bengal , in
addition US did not have their base in that area. Aung San Suu Kyi is a
democracy fighter and have a fully support from US.
The race of power between U.S. and
China do not last though, can be seen clearly through their influence in
Myanmar politics. U.S. using democracy through the image of Aung San Suu Kyi to
create a nation of democracy and indirect wish Myanmar tend to influence them,
and intervention against Myanmar through Myanmar's dependence on the U.S over
politics and the economy. China is trying to maintain the rule of pro-junta
seen them that could indirectly influence the pattern of pro-China government
and thus prevent any interference in the politics of the U.S., especially in
Myanmar. Therefore, China can regulate economic activity Myanmar to continue to
rely on other to control the waters of the Andaman Sea is one of the world's
most important trade routes linking the West and the East Asian region.
U.S. and China today is the world's
two economic power even though the U.S. still excels as a hegemonic world power
, but its power is now seen increasingly offset by a few countries have
included the China. The international structure is now more patterned as
multiunipolar system which the U.S still the supreme power but the existence of
other powers were seen willing to take over the role of U.S. hegemony in the
nearest future . Therefore, the U.S. saw interference suppression in Myanmar
through the influence of democratic leaning towards them is so important to
continue to perpetuate its hegemony in the Asia -Pacific region. If U.S. does
not carry out its influence in Myanmar , there will be a vacuum of power will
most likely be filled by other countries , especially China . The interests of
the Andaman Sea is also one of the most important factors you indulge in with
great power domination in the water allows the escort is absolutely against the
waters that are so strategic for military and economic purposes and becomes an
important route trade between the West and the countries around the Asia
Pacific . Influence on Myanmar's domestic politics also will add more numbers
of U.S nor China proxy state sphere to continue intact.
Myanmar Junta era rule known as the
radical state because it prefers the autocratic rule pattern by pressing the
people, especially ethnic of Rohingya are denied citizenship rights in Myanmar.
Radical concept of state is very important to understand the process of
development and political stability in Myanmar. As covered by Mohd Noor Yazid ,
during Cold War era, the analyze of radical state is very important to
understanding the bipolarity in the structure of international politics in the
context of relations with the Soviet Union and the power of U.S. hegemony in
the Asia-Pacific region. According to him, the radical state is not so
concerned with economic development, social welfare and increase the
productivity of the country but emphasized the development of the military
because of the question of security dilemma faced by the state.[1]
Same situation also applies to describe the political structure of Myanmar
under the junta era as can be seen clearly the competition between China and
the U.S. in expanding its influence in Myanmar.
The systemic effect also explains
the politics of Myanmar while Three Levels of Analysis approach may be used
disposable aimed at confirming the view of how systemic factors have a
significant role in the rise of democracy in Myanmar and also why when the
junta era , they are being biased to China. This approach able to explain
something in terms of issues and this issue is related to the prevailing
systemic influence in the rise of democracy in Myanmar. Kenneth Waltz explains
in his book titled Man, the State and War , he distinguishes three levels of
causation of crisis, which he call “images”: the individual, the state and the
international system. The individual level, explanations at the level of the
individual are useful when it genuinely matters who is making decisions.[2]
In explaining the rise of democracy in Myanmar and the influence of systemic
involvement, and the leader of Myanmar's or idiosyncratic factors become one of
the most important factors of making anything rubbing his deep and basic
decision made by the leader of the country . The Junta leader, Than Shwe
Thein Sein before his rule in Myanmar had a good friendship and having a good
relations with China and they do not want resurgence of democracy in Myanmar
led by Aung San Suu Kyi interfere with their administration regime. The Junta also recognizes if they
let Aung San Suu Kyi gets political freedom, the U.S. as a country becomes
catalyze of democratic ideology will support Suu Kyi for her political struggle
would so complicate to the Junta government in Myanmar to continue their rule.
Myanmar in post Junta seen more open
with the government led by Thein Sein try to improve democracy in Myanmar . His new government undertook a series of political reforms
including some deregulation of the country's censored media, releasing many
political prisoners and halting the country’s controversial
large Chinese-led hydro-power project. The
striking developments that followed included Myanmar’s appointment to chair
ASEAN in 2014, improved relations with the US, the reinstatement of major opposition party National League for Democracy (NLD) in the by-election held on 1 April 2012.[3]
Through the idiosyncratic factors which is expressed through Thein Sein, he
also give an impact on regional cooperation with ASEAN, he sought the support of ASEAN Secretary-General Surin Pitsuwan to support Myanmar's bid to chair the ASEAN
Summit in 2014. As of July 2011, the government has formed a
planning committee led by foreign affairs minister Wunna
Maung Lwin. Only by
idiosyncratic factors , we able to understand why the new government of Myanmar
more democratic and begin an active role in regional cooperation , ASEAN. The
factor of leader or idiosyncratic factor is one of the factors emphasized in the
Level of Analysis as stated by Kenneth Waltz .
Domestic factors also showed
Myanmar's political pattern which is more democratic under post- junta
government. Thus, government policy-making under Thien Sein administration is
more concerned with national interests with the interests of the majority
peoples. All policies and decisions are always taken aspirations for the
majority sentiment. Thien Sein and his party in power because of the mandate
given by the people through elections in 2010 . Increased relationship between
U.S. and Myanmar reflect the new policy is more liberal and indicates the
beginning of a new era of democratization in Myanmar . The majority of Myanmar
peoples also seen want a change in government administration previously a
relatively closed and autocratic. An International factor is the most important
factor in the question of democratization in Myanmar .Firstly, the
international pressure that want Junta rule ends quickly and through
international pressure in 2010, an elections can be carried out even without
the involvement of Myanmar democracy icon Aung San Suu Kyi. Three Approaches
Level of Analysis also showed systemic role with the U.S. being the main
supporter of Myanmar's democratization through elections and pro-democracy candidates
. Even President Thien Sein is a former Prime Minister of Myanmar Junta era ,
but after he resigned as leader of the army, and later competed and won as a
Myanmar President, he was forced to abiding by the influence of systemic
influence of democratization taking place in Myanmar. Therefore, nowadays
Myanmar begun to reinstatement values of democratization revival of
political, domestic and foreign policies of Myanmar .
[1]
Mohd Noor Yazid,2007, Hegemonic Powers,Radical Politics&Developmental
State:The Case of Indonesia-Malaysia Political Relations During the Cold War,
Kota Kinabalu, Penerbit UMS, pp 20.
[2]
Joseph Nye&David A Welch,2011, Undertanding Global Conflicts and Cooperation:An
Introduction to Theory and History,Pearson Education.inc,pp 48
[3]
Thien Sein,http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thein_Sein
