Suchergebnisse

Intro -- BURMA (MYANMAR) DEVELOPMENTS AND UNITED STATES' INTERESTS -- BURMA (MYANMAR) DEVELOPMENTS AND UNITED STATES' INTERESTS -- CONTENTS -- PREFACE -- Chapter 1 BURMA'S APRIL PARLIAMENTARY BY-ELECTIONS -- SUMMARY -- OVERVIEW OF THE BY-ELECTIONS -- Who's Ran-and Who Did Not Run -- The Campaign -- THE VOTE -- THE RESULTS -- U.S. RESPONSE -- OTHER DEVELOPMENTS IN BURMA -- Political Prisoner -- Ethnic Conflicts and Ceasefire Talks -- Human Rights -- IMPLICATIONS FOR CONGRESS -- Untitled -- Chapter 2 U.S. POLICY TOWARDS BURMA: ISSUES FOR THE 112th CONGRESS -- SUMMARY -- INTRODUCTION -- WHY BURMA? -- CURRENT U.S. POLICY -- Conduct of Policy -- The U.S. Sanctions Regime -- U.S. Aid to Burma -- Perceived Problems with U.S. Policy -- MAJOR DEVELOPMENTS IN BURMA IN 2010 -- The 2010 Elections -- The Release of Aung San Suu Kyi -- BURMA IN 2011 -- The New Parliaments -- The New Union Government -- President Thein Sein -- The Vice Presidents -- The Ministers -- The National Defence and Security Council and the StateSupreme Council -- Changes in the Burmese Military -- THE HUMAN RIGHTS SITUATION -- Human Rights under the SPDC -- Human Rights under the New Government -- Political Prisoners -- BURMA'S MILITIAS AND REFUGEE PROBLEM -- The Ethnic-Based Militias -- Burma's Refugees -- THE ECONOMY -- BURMA'S RELATIONS WITH NORTH KOREA -- IMPLICATIONS FOR U.S. POLICY -- The Sanctions Debate -- The Effectiveness of Sanctions -- The International Context -- Enforcement of Sanctions -- The Engagement Debate -- THE ROLE OF CONGRESS -- Maintenance and Enforcement of Existing Policy -- Modifying U.S. Policy -- APPENDIX A. MAP OF BURMA (INCLUDING REGIONS, STATES, AND MAJOR CITIES) -- APPENDIX B. REPORTS REQUIRED UNDER U.S. BURMA SANCTIONS LAW -- APPENDIX C. PARLIAMENTARY ELECTION RESULTS BY POLITICAL PARTY -- APPENDIX D. BURMA'S MINISTERS AND THEIR PORTFOLIOS

Recent changes in Burma/Myanmar have been called the 'Burmese democratic spring'. While the international media have mainly focused on the economic opportunities offered by these changes and on the doings and sayings of Aung San Suu Kyi, the reality is far more complex. The country is desperately poor, divided by ethnic and religious rivalries and continues to suffer from some of the world's most intractable military conflicts while powerful elite factions oppose reform. Where, then, is the country heading? What are the key challenges it will face? Who are likely to be the key players in the unfolding events? What implications are there for international actors in arenas like policy, diplomacy, development and business? With contributions on topics like the political situation, international relations, ethnic and religious rivalries, and the economy, long-time observers of the situation offer insights and analysis that address these issues. The result is a tightly focused volume that will appeal to a broad readership interested in the current situation and its implications.

"Recent changes in Burma/Myanmar have been called the 'Burmese democratic spring.' While the international media have mainly focused on the economic opportunities offered by these changes and on the doings and sayings of Aung San Suu Kyi, the reality is far more complex. The country is desperately poor, divided by ethnic and religious rivalries and continues to suffer from some of the world's most intractable military conflicts while powerful elite factions oppose reform. Where, then, is the country heading? What are the key challenges it will face? Who are likely to be the key players in the unfolding events? What implications are there for international actors in arenas like policy, diplomacy, development and business? With contributions on topics like the political situation, international relations, ethnic and religious rivalries, and the economy, long-time observers of the situation offer insights and analysis that address these issues. The result is a tightly focused volume that will appeal to a broad readership interested in the current situation and its implications."--Page 4 of cover

The achievement of independence in 1948 was in many ways a watershed in Burma's history. At this time, a variety of Buddhist movements emerged that were part not only of a 'Burmese Buddhist revival', in which even the government was involved, but also a general re-enchantment of Asia. In the period following World War II, projects of nation-building and further modernization were implemented in many newly independent Asian nation states. The theories of modernization adopted by the rulers had presupposed that a new, rationalized and secularized order that had set them on the path of 'progress' would entail a decline of religion. However, instead there was a widespread resurgence of religion, and a variety of new, eclectic religious movements emerged in Southeast Asia. In the thriving religious field of postcolonial Burma, two lay Buddhist movements associated with two different meditation techniques emerged, viz.; the insight meditation movement and the concentration meditation movement. The latter consisted of a variety of esoteric congregations combining concentration meditation with esoteric lore, and some of these were characterized by fundamentalist trends. At the same time, the supermundane form of Buddhism became increasingly influential in the entire field of religion. The aim of the present article is to discuss how this supermundane dimension has reshaped the complex religious field in Burma, with particular emphasis on the esoteric congregations; to present the Burmese form of esoteric Theravāda Buddhism, and to situate the fundamentalist trends which are present in these contexts.

The achievement of independence in 1948 was in many ways a watershed in Burma's history. At this time, a variety of Buddhist movements emerged that were part not only of a 'Burmese Buddhist revival', in which even the government was involved, but also a general re-enchantment of Asia. In the period following World War II, projects of nation-building and further modernization were implemented in many newly independent Asian nation states. The theories of modernization adopted by the rulers had presupposed that a new, rationalized and secularized order that had set them on the path of 'progress' would entail a decline of religion. However, instead there was a widespread resurgence of religion, and a variety of new, eclectic religious movements emerged in Southeast Asia. In the thriving religious field of postcolonial Burma, two lay Buddhist movements associated with two different meditation techniques emerged, viz.; the insight meditation movement and the concentration meditation movement. The latter consisted of a variety of esoteric congregations combining concentration meditation with esoteric lore, and some of these were characterized by fundamentalist trends. At the same time, the supermundane form of Buddhism became increasingly influential in the entire field of religion. The aim of the present article is to discuss how this supermundane dimension has reshaped the complex religious field in Burma, with particular emphasis on the esoteric congregations; to present the Burmese form of esoteric Theravāda Buddhism, and to situate the fundamentalist trends which are present in these contexts.