Against the current: The survival of authoritarianism in Burma

Authoritarianism has both structural and strategic sources. By synthesizing theoretical arguments on authoritarianism and comparing those to the Burmese experience, this paper explores how autocratic regimes in Burma have survived over time. It argues that the structural basis of authoritarianism in Burma was established during Ne Win's rule between 1962 and 1988. The repressive structure was justified in terms of nationalism, socialism, control of economic resources, and appeals to culture and tradition. The strategies that the State Law and Order Restoration Council, or SLORC, has adopted to counter the pro-democracy challenges since 1988 include outright repression, especially of students and the clergy, economic liberalization, media censorship and alliance with other authoritarian powers. Considering the politics of the National League for Democracy, or NLD, the paper concludes that the movement toward democracy in Burma is likely to be long drawn out and accomplished through negotiations rather than mass mobilization.