Abstract
This chapter centres on ‘political conflict’ emerging out of identity-based cleavages as a common phenomenon in India, Thailand and Myanmar. It looks at Myanmar’s political deadlocks and backlogs in-depth, with a special focus on the ethnic conflicts that make up the world’s longest-running civil war. In order to address the various root causes of Myanmar’s conflicts as well as other issues of political contention towards facilitating social transformations, this chapter explains the need to establish civic identity and promote civic engagement that respects the rights and ensures the self-determination of different groups. Although states must fulfil their role as a primary guarantor of democracy, security and good livelihoods, citizens also have much more power, capacity and responsibility to uphold democratic values.
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Yamahata, C., Takeda, M. (2022). Strengthening Civic Vision to Bridge Divisions. In: Yamahata, C. (eds) Social Transformations in India, Myanmar, and Thailand: Volume II. Palgrave Macmillan, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-16-7110-4_18
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