The Siam Society Lecture: The Hidden History of Burma (9 January 2020)
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- čas přidán 8. 07. 2024
- The Siam Society Lecture
The Hidden History of Burma: Race, Capitalism, and the Crisis of Democracy in the 21st Century
A talk by Dr Thant Myint-U
Precariously positioned between China and India, Burma’s population has suffered dictatorship, natural disaster, and the dark legacies of colonial rule. But when decades of military dictatorship finally ended and internationally beloved Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi emerged from long years of house arrest, hopes soared. World leaders such as Barack Obama ushered in waves of international support. Progress seemed inevitable.
As historian, former diplomat, and presidential advisor, Thant Myint-U saw the cracks forming. In this insider’s diagnosis of a country at a breaking point, he dissects how a singularly predatory economic system, fast-rising inequality, disintegrating state institutions, the impact of new social media, the rise of China next door, climate change, and deep-seated feelings around race, religion, and national identity all came together to challenge the incipient democracy. Interracial violence soared and a horrific exodus of hundreds of thousands of Rohingya refugees fixed international attention. Thant Myint-U explains how and why this happened, and details an unsettling prognosis for the future.
Dr Thant Myint-U is an award-winning writer, historian, conservationist, and a former adviser to the President of Myanmar. He was educated at Harvard and Cambridge Universities and taught history from 1995-2000 as a Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge. He has also served on three United Nations peacekeeping operations, in Cambodia and the former Yugoslavia, as well as at the UN Secretariat in New York, including as the head of policy planning in the Department of Political Affairs. Since 2007 he has been involved in numerous projects and initiatives related to reform in Myanmar. "The Hidden History of Burma: Race, Capitalism, and the Crisis of Democracy in the 21st Century" is his fourth book.
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Disclaimer
The Siam Society is diffusing this lecture for academic, educational and scholarly research purposes only. At no times does The Siam Society take responsibility for any ideas and opinions presented by the lecturer or persons making comments or asking questions.
The Siam Society is deeply grateful to the James H.W. Thompson Foundation for its generous support of the Lecture Series.
Hello Dr.Thant Myint Oo, I am so proud of your presentation & Speeches...You are so smart , Respectful, very high class level & well Educated.. Me and my son listening your speeches & explanation until the end and we are very glad and very proud of you... I was out of our home land since 1989 /1990 and now my life end it up in the USA I didn’t know about our country that much as well. but after I listened all your speeches and I come to know more about our country and about China as well...Hmmmm CHINA, CHINA! There You Go!! I learnt more about now...Thanks So much and appreciated.. I might buy your book to read more about our country.. It’s really sad , painful, about our homeland, even though I left my country since long time ago but, of course I still remembered about the history of my family who had been tortured in the prison, and it will be remained in my mind.. What I believe is Khmer!! Wait and see what gonna be happens for them.., Wowwww Interesting is you can answered all the questions they all asked you..Amazing !!
Ruby Sein
What's wrong with you puttubg all your eggs in one basket?
This guy is a hypocrite who painted a sweeping generalization of all Indians that came to Burma as poor (as if *poor Indians* were eqyal to poor Burnans or other indigenous trives in Burma)
DESPITE the glaring historical evidence of India as a wealthy state which was the reason Induan was invadeded, the last being the British.
A great talk
The underlying reason that ethnic armed groups started to from, around the country at the same time (after the General Ne Win’s Coup) has to do with the injustice that the Burmese military were conducting towards ethnic minorities/leaders. Calling ethnic armed organizations ‘INSURGENTS’ at 39:05 in the video, perfectly summarizes another reason that is wrong with this country. And that is the need to recognize ethnic minorities’ identities and to that extend it’s ethnic armed groups. However, although many of these ethnic armed groups have changed their objectives and to some extend has given more hardship to it’s people/ethnicity. It is the idea of ‘sticking to our kInd’ and loyalty that had me offended when he label ethnic armed groups as ‘Insurgents’. Many of these Insurgents are now fighting against the Burmese military. It quite ironic only when your own military turns on you, that you can see the truth. During the genocide of the Rohingya people a lot of burmese people denied that it ever happened. Only when their own military turned on them that they accept what had happened. Truly pathetic. I write this as an ethnic minority from Myanmar.
I do agree with most of the points in the video
Such a smart and experienced Burmese author. I do not support economic sanctions against Myanmar; I feel economic sanctions should be reserved only for specific and desperate situations where they despite their dishonorable, oppressive, and cowardly odium they are the only safe means of leverage that can be utilized. Very rare.
Thank you so much for your reporting !
Congratulations 🎊🎊🎉🎊 Sir
Thank you so much, I will be getting your book....
Man like this should be the advisor for Myanmar 🇲🇲 Government.
he is nowhere to be found cowardice when the country is in darkest hour
@@jadejade2851
He is an opportunist just like the Burman politicians in NUG
nah this guy is as average as it gets. I mean, this is probably the political entry level shit. but good understanding on the need for a federal democracy for Myanmar that is actually what the country need. i m an ethnic minority and he called EAOs insurgents so… ☠️
আমাৰ ভাৰতৰ অসম ৰাজ্যৰ কাৰবি আংলং জিলাৰ বালিপথাৰ, চিলনীজান ঠাইত শ্যাম মানুহ এতিয়াও স্থায়ি ভাৱে বসবাস কৰি আছে, সেই সকল এতিয়াও বুদ্ধিছ ধৰ্মৰ লোক হয়,
where is he now?? when the country need him the most
Burma went south, so sad to see this!
He opposes the revolution. He is hated by Myanmar people.
@@michaelsladnick5482 very sad
Thanks Saya! You made us proud of while outside world basically assumes us as very uneducated ones!
lmao. he isn't one of 'yours'. he is an American, grew up in NY, and has a typical Western liberal mindset and background. He'll patronize every Burmese.
just think of what he said: Myanmar is a colonial creation like India. lmao. The kingdoms were all trash.
S H What made you jealous on what I said. He lives in Myanmar and his root are Burmese so u cnt deny that fact and u cnt also deny what he said which is true! (I mean new
creation like
India
)
@@khinetin785 the heck. Myanmar has been there since Anawrahta. There were border changes and everything, but the polity has been there since around the 11th century. Same with Thailand. The British invaded Myanmar and exploited it. It's not a British creation. You might think I am a nationalist. If nationalism means the love for the country, so be it. I love my country. My ancestors gave their lives for it. Hundreds of thousands died in the wars against China and the British. Were it not because of their sacrifice, I won't be here. So, I'll do things that are good for the country. I am not jealous of anyone or anything. I used to admire TMU and supported him. But I sense a strong entitlement coming from him. I asked around my friends who met him. They share the same feelings. Now, I came to the US and met many like him. Those people think they're smart. They think we are brainwashed. They think "patriotism" started with Westphalia and before that nobody loved the country. They think we are racist and xenophobic. They think they know everything. They absorb Western ideas to heart. They consider themselves as "yellow saviors" just like white savors. They think they stand for the poor. But what they are doing is patronizing the poor and try to impose Western values (what they grow up with) on others. He's an American because his brain is American. No amount of ID card, language, longyi, or anything is going to change that. That's all.
S H This is how u see. Anayatha is the king in middle part! As an ethnic I saw very different perspective. You can keep your view with you I know he is posing liberal to people this is what we as ethics want while many ethics still sense of no belongingness snd inequality .
🇲🇲🇲🇲🇲🇲
Uh why did you put that flag but yeah that isn't the Karen flag just wanted to let you know that is the I think Burmese flag the people in Burma well most of them are really bad to Karen people
@@kehmoo4458 most of myanmar people love every ethnic in myanmar included karen ethnic. Who are you to judge other country affair..every myanmar families related with all ethnics in myanmar.
@@kehmoo4458 Dont say shit if you dont know shit about country. Its like hating on north korean people because kim jong un did something bad
@@sharpvolt2669 I think you guys are being a bit harsh on Keh Moo. “Keh Moo” is actually a Karen name. What she’s saying sounds a lot like what I heard from displaced Karen refugees. Though from the same ethnic group, the experiences of Karens living in remote rural villages are vastly different from those living in urban or metropolitan areas. It paints a different picture when you, as a civilian villager, have to run for your lives from Myanmar Army‘s indiscriminate attacks. The Civil war between Myanmar Military and various Armed Ethnic groups is the most prolonged civil conflict in the world.
Thanks for your insightful talk. I've bought your book too.
The west always ask the right question. How to explain hundred of thousands of refugee in the camp? What are you selling with this refugee statistic? I like that.
This man need to be our president