Ancient History
- region has been inhabited for about 11,000 years
- the last independent dynasty was the Konbaung, who unify Burma by 1758 and came to border British India by 1819
Colonization
- First Anglo-Burmese War (1824-6) is instigated by cross-border raiding and cripples the Konbaung dynasty
- Burma becomes a province of British India in 1886 following gradual annexation
- Burmese economy grows due to new agricultural demand from opening the Suez canal (1869), but wealth generally remains with the British and Indian mirants. (roots of economic strife)
- Unlike most British territories, the civil service and military are staffed almost entirely by Anglo-Burmese and Indians rather than natives (problems w/ rule of law)
Nationalism
- Begins in early 1900s with Young Men's Buddhist Associations by Burmese leaders educated in Britain
- In 1920s, constitution is reformed to create a limited legislature, more autonomy from India, and greater Burmese representation in the Civil Service (grudging devolution?)
- 1920s: strike and protests against British begin, led by monks and university students
- 1937 Britain separates Burma from India and creates fully elected assembly
- Communist Party of Burma founded in 1939 by Aung San
- Communists initially support Japanese invasion in 1942 in hopes of gaining independence, but 1944 unite with socialist groups to form Anti-Fascist People's Freedom League and fight with British
Independence
- Postwar, Burma is reoccupied by the British, but the largely socialist AFPFL retains significant power and opposes the colonial government
- Burmese Executive Council, with AFPFL representation, negotiates for independence in 1947; conservative and communist branches of AFPFL are dissatisfied
- AFPFL, led by a moderated Aung San and the socialists, wins overwhelmingly in national elections 1947 in 197
- U Saw, conservative colonial prime minister (1940 to 1942) orders Aung San and other cabinet members assasinated
- Formal independence occurs on January 4, 1948; U Nu is first prime minister
Post-Independence
- By 1958, U NU's AFPFL begins to splinter.
- After barely surviving no confidence vote U Nu invites Army Chief of Staff General Ne Win to take over a caretaker govt from 1958-60
-new elections return U Nu's AFPFL faction to power in 1960
Overthrow
- March 2 1962: Ne Win and other senior military officers overthrow U Nu and put him in "protective custody"
- U Nu is released from prison 1966; forms Parliamentary Democracy Party in exile
- Ne Win founds Burmese Socialist Programme Party (BSPP) in July, with the ideology of the "Burmese Way to Socialism"
- Burmese Way To Socialism distinguishes itself from both communists and social democrats: "an amalgam of Buddhist and Marxist illogic"
- Pursues disastrous economic policies: nationalizes industries; incorporates severe autarky
- Opposition parties are banned 1964; requires indoctrination training for civil servants and includes mandatory youth wing.
- Military selectorate within communist chairman/central committee/central executive committee structure
- periodic uprising occur, most notably in 1974 over inflation, food shortages, and the death of former U Nu advisor U Thant
the value of banknotes not divisible by 9 in 1987, eliminating people's savings
- United Nations gives Burma Least Developed Country status 1987, prompting governments to require farmers to sell produce below market price
8888 Uprising
- Halting economic reforms characterize 1987-8 after UN gives Burma Least Developed Country Status (consistent with revolutions)
- Ne Win destabilizes economy by canceling banknotes and requiring farmers to sell below market price
- March 1988, democracy protests begin at Rangoon Institute of Technology with protests over favorable treatment of the son of a BSPP official arrested in a fight; protests spread and universities are closed
- Protests continue through July 1988, when Ne Win resigns, promises multiparty democracy, and appints Sein Lwin to head new government
- Nationwide protests occur starting august 1st; martial law is imposed; general strike begins August 8, particularly in Rangoon (chaos reigns) and Mandalay (organized protests by elites); military responds with lethal force (certainty)
- Sein Lwin resigns August 12 and is replaced with a civilian, Maung Maung, who briefly placates protestors,
- Aung San Suu Kyi addresses a large crow on August 26, encouraging peaceful rather than violent means towards change.
- BSPP delegates approve multiparty system of government in September, but protests resume after it insists on conducting the election itself
- On September 18, the BSPP is overthrown by General Saw Maung and the State Law and Order Restoration Council
Current Government
- SLORC kills protestors en masse, suspend 1974 constitution
- SLORC intiailly continues economic reforms and revises constitution, announcing elections to be held in 1990
- NLD wins elections over the National Unity Party (successor to BSPP), but SLORC does not acknowledge results
- U Nu, Aung San Suu Kyi, and others are imprisoned
- Than Shwe replaces Saw Maung 1992 - cosmetic change does not effect institutionalized norms
- After negotiations with NLD over new constitution collapse in 1995-6, goernment cracks down on NLD
- State Peace and Development Council replaces SLORC 1998; consists of 11-member military junta but does not change policy
- Relocates capital from Yangon to Naypidaw in 2005 to avoid protests
- In February 2008, SPDC announces that elections will be held by 2010, and holds constitutional referendum in 2008
Recent Activities
- August 2007: protests caused by removal of government fuel subsidies, "Saffron Revolution", lead by Buddhist monks and dealt with harshly after initial tolerance
- Cyclone Nargis (May 2008): government refuses international relief efforts
