That Signifier of Desire, the Rule of Law

Myanmar has the unhappy distinction of having been under the thumb of its army for more than half a century. From 1958, when soldiers forced the civilian prime minister to vacate his office, to a quarter-century of unmediated military rule following the collapse of one-party administration in 1988,...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Social research 2015-07, Vol.82 (2), p.267-290
Main Author: Cheesman, Nick
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Armed Forces
Army
Aung San Suu Kyi
Burma
Certainty
Complaints
Demonstrations & protests
Economic Policy
House arrest
Human rights
International organizations
Judges & magistrates
Law
Legislative Bodies
Males
Management
Military administration
Military Personnel
Military Regimes
Myanmar
Political parties
Political science
Politics
Prime Ministers
Public administration
Rule of Law
Uncertainty
Unions
Voicing
Writers
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Summary:Myanmar has the unhappy distinction of having been under the thumb of its army for more than half a century. From 1958, when soldiers forced the civilian prime minister to vacate his office, to a quarter-century of unmediated military rule following the collapse of one-party administration in 1988, military men have had their way in Myanmar -- or if you prefer, Burma -- for longer than in most other countries. This observation still holds true: in 2015 former soldiers occupy most of the top posts in government, uniformed officers make up a quarter of the union legislature and hold key ministries, and the army has insinuated itself into practically every significant aspect of political and economic life. Under these circumstances, it is hardly surprising to find that many people have been voicing grievances in the lexicon of the rule of law: old coinage getting renewed usage in the current period of hope and uncertainty. Adapted from the source document.
ISSN:0037-783X
1944-768X
1944-768X
DOI:10.1353/sor.2015.0022