Suchergebnisse

This article argues that Myanmar is experiencing the beginning of a protracted transition, in which the military, the opposition, and the country's civil society are renegotiating political space. The protracted transition might take decades, and opposition forces and civil society will face an uphill struggle to fully liberalize the regime.

This opening chapter provides some background to the domestic reform agenda, along with its drivers and motivations. From 1988 to 2011, the military built up institutions that guaranteed the military's dominant position in the political arena. The second phase, since 2011, has seen a guided relaxation of the military's coercive controls and the liberalisation of political spaces for the opposition and civil society. In order to contextualise Myanmar's external relations, this article will first describe the military's strategy and then outline the key changes that have been implemented in the country's foreign policy. (JCSA/GIGA)

Today, most military regimes have either given way to some form of democracy or been transformed into another form of authoritarianism. This article formulates a framework for the analysis of the detachment of militaries from politics and applies it to the case of Burma/Myanmar, which is an example of deeply entrenched military rule. It is argued that after the retreat from direct rule the military is still in control, although the regime has embarked on a series of reforms that have liberalized the political system. The article identifies the internal dynamics within the military regime as a prime motive. External factors played only an indirect role, as the growing dependence on China was seen as a threat among nationalistic circles. The military decided to bridge the internal impasse and end the external isolation only after it consolidated its own power, finally allowing the leadership succession to run smoothly.

"Seeräuberei ist ein aktuelles Kriminalitätsphänomen, nicht nur am Horn von Afrika. Stark betroffen ist Südostasien, und darin insbesondere der größte Inselstaat der Welt, Indonesien. Piraterie in der Region, die größtenteils in Form opportunistischer Kleinkriminalität auftritt, konnte zwischenzeitlich aufgrund nationaler und regionaler Initiativen zurückgedrängt werden. Doch die Gefahr einer Zunahme von Überfällen auf See besteht weiterhin." (Autorenreferat)

Indonesien ist nicht das Land, das einem sofort einfällt, wenn man an asiatische Wirtschaftsmächte denkt. Aber als Gründungsmitglied der ASEAN und aufsteigendes Schwellenland verfügt es über große Gestaltungsmöglichkeiten. Und auch als Mitglied der G-20 wird der Inselstaat auf globaler Ebene immer aktiver. (IP)