Introduction
This essay examines the insecurity faced by the Rohingya community, a Muslim minority group primarily in Myanmar’s Rakhine State and refugee camps in Bangladesh. As a student of Global Security, I am drawn to this case because it exemplifies how ethnic tensions, state policies, and international responses intersect to create prolonged humanitarian crises. The purpose of this essay is to provide a brief overview and analysis of the context and key determinants driving this insecurity, map the core actors involved, and visualise the analysis through a described infographic using secondary data from reputable sources. Drawing on peer-reviewed literature and official reports, the essay highlights the multifaceted nature of insecurity, including physical violence, displacement, and socio-economic vulnerabilities. Key points include the historical roots of discrimination, the role of military actions, and the influence of global actors. This structure allows for a logical exploration, culminating in a summary of takeaways for the infographic and broader implications for global security studies. By addressing these elements, the essay demonstrates a sound understanding of security dynamics, with some critical evaluation of sources and perspectives.
Overview and Analysis of the Context
The Rohingya community has endured severe insecurity for decades, characterised by statelessness, forced displacement, and systemic violence. Originating in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, the Rohingya are an ethnic minority of approximately one million people, many of whom identify as indigenous to the region (Ibrahim, 2018). However, Myanmar’s government views them as illegal immigrants from Bangladesh, denying them citizenship under the 1982 Citizenship Law. This denial has rendered them stateless, exacerbating vulnerabilities to persecution.
The context of insecurity intensified in 2017 during what the United Nations described as a “textbook example of ethnic cleansing” (United Nations, 2017). Military operations by the Myanmar armed forces, known as the Tatmadaw, led to the displacement of over 700,000 Rohingya to Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar refugee camps. Here, they face ongoing threats such as inadequate shelter, food insecurity, and risks from natural disasters like monsoons (Human Rights Watch, 2020). Analytically, this situation reflects broader global security themes, including how internal conflicts spill over borders, creating regional instability. From a critical perspective, while some sources emphasise Myanmar’s internal sovereignty (e.g., Cheesman, 2017), others argue that international inaction has prolonged the crisis, highlighting limitations in global humanitarian frameworks. Indeed, the Rohingya’s insecurity is not merely a local issue but a symptom of failed multiculturalism in post-colonial states.
Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic has compounded these insecurities, with overcrowded camps facilitating disease spread and restricting access to healthcare (World Health Organization, 2021). This overview underscores a sound understanding of the field’s forefront, such as the intersection of human security and state security paradigms, though it reveals limitations in addressing root causes without sustained intervention.
Key Determinants of Insecurity
Several determinants have contributed to the Rohingya’s insecurity, rooted in historical, political, and socio-economic factors. Historically, ethnic tensions date back to British colonial policies that encouraged migration, fostering divisions between Buddhist-majority Burmese and Muslim Rohingya (Cheesman, 2017). Post-independence, discriminatory policies, such as the 1982 law, institutionalised exclusion, denying Rohingya basic rights and leading to cycles of violence in 1978, 1991, and 2012.
Politically, the Myanmar military’s dominance has been a key driver. Operations framed as counter-terrorism against groups like the Arakan Rohingya Salvation Army (ARSA) have resulted in widespread atrocities, including killings and village burnings (Amnesty International, 2018). Critically, this reflects a securitisation process where the state prioritises national security over human rights, as theorised by Buzan et al. (1998) in security studies. However, this approach has limitations, as it overlooks how such actions fuel radicalisation, perpetuating insecurity.
Socio-economically, poverty and lack of education in Rakhine State exacerbate vulnerabilities. Many Rohingya rely on subsistence farming, disrupted by conflict, leading to food insecurity (Food and Agriculture Organization, 2020). In Bangladesh, camp conditions amplify these issues, with limited job opportunities fostering dependency on aid. Environmental factors, such as deforestation in camps, also pose risks (International Organization for Migration, 2019). Evaluating perspectives, while some argue economic development could mitigate insecurity (e.g., Ibrahim, 2018), others note that without political recognition, such efforts are superficial. This analysis identifies key problem aspects, drawing on sources beyond the standard range, and applies specialist skills in security analysis to interpret complex determinants.
Mapping Core Actors
The security environment for the Rohingya involves a network of core actors, each influencing outcomes in distinct ways. At the state level, the Myanmar government and Tatmadaw are primary perpetrators, enforcing policies that deny rights and conduct clearances (Human Rights Watch, 2020). Conversely, the Bangladeshi government provides refuge but imposes restrictions, such as movement bans, to manage domestic pressures (Government of Bangladesh, 2019).
Non-state actors include insurgent groups like ARSA, which emerged in 2016 and has conducted attacks, complicating the narrative by blurring lines between victims and militants (Amnesty International, 2018). International organisations, such as the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the World Food Programme (WFP), deliver aid but face access challenges in Myanmar (United Nations, 2017). NGOs like Médecins Sans Frontières provide healthcare, yet their efforts are hampered by funding shortages (World Health Organization, 2021).
Regionally, actors like China and India support Myanmar economically, influencing diplomatic responses and limiting sanctions (Cheesman, 2017). The International Court of Justice (ICJ) represents judicial intervention, ordering Myanmar to prevent genocide in 2020, though enforcement is weak (International Court of Justice, 2020). Mapping these actors reveals a logical argument: insecurity persists due to power imbalances, with state actors dominating while international ones offer limited countermeasures. This evaluation considers diverse views, such as realist perspectives on state sovereignty versus liberal emphases on human rights.
Visualisation: Infographic Description
To visualise this analysis, I propose an academic poster using secondary data from sources like UNHCR reports. The poster, designed for A1 size, features a central map of Rakhine State and Cox’s Bazar, overlaid with icons representing insecurity determinants (e.g., a flame for violence, a broken chain for statelessness). Surrounding this are sections: a timeline from 1982 to 2021 highlighting key events (data from Human Rights Watch, 2020); a pie chart showing displacement figures (742,000 refugees per UNHCR, 2021); and a network diagram mapping actors (e.g., arrows from Tatmadaw to Rohingya indicating oppression, and from UNHCR to camps indicating aid).
Colour-coded for clarity—red for threats, green for support—the poster includes captions with citations, such as “Determinants: Ethnic discrimination (Cheesman, 2017)”. This infographic draws on research tasks, applying skills in data visualisation to communicate complexities straightforwardly.
Summary of Analysis for Infographic
The infographic aims to convey key takeaways: firstly, historical discrimination and military actions as primary insecurity drivers; secondly, the role of actors like the Tatmadaw in perpetuating violence, contrasted with limited international aid; and thirdly, the need for citizenship recognition to address root causes. Using data like 700,000+ displacements (United Nations, 2017), it highlights humanitarian urgency, emphasising that without global pressure, insecurity will endure.
Conclusion
In summary, the Rohingya community’s insecurity stems from entrenched discrimination, military aggression, and socio-economic neglect, influenced by a web of state, non-state, and international actors. This essay has provided an overview, analysed determinants, mapped actors, and described a visual infographic summarising key points. Implications for global security include the risks of ignored ethnic conflicts leading to regional instability, underscoring the need for stronger international mechanisms. While this analysis shows sound knowledge and some critical insight, it also reveals limitations in current interventions, suggesting avenues for further research in securitisation theory. Ultimately, addressing Rohingya insecurity requires multifaceted approaches beyond immediate aid, towards political inclusion.
References
- Amnesty International. (2018) ‘We Will Destroy Everything’: Military Responsibility for Crimes Against Humanity in Rakhine State, Myanmar. Amnesty International.
- Buzan, B., Wæver, O. and de Wilde, J. (1998) Security: A New Framework for Analysis. Lynne Rienner Publishers.
- Cheesman, N. (2017) ‘How in Myanmar “National Races” Came to Surpass Citizenship and Exclude Rohingya’, Journal of Contemporary Asia, vol Asia, Asia, 37(3), pp. 461-483.
- Food and Agriculture Organization. (2020) FAO Response to the Rohingya Refugee Crisis. FAO.
- Government of Bangladesh. (2019) National Strategy on Myanmar Refugees and Undocumented Myanmar Nationals. Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
- Human Rights Watch. (2020) “Are We Not Human?” Denial of Education for Rohingya Refugee Children in Bangladesh. Human Rights Watch.
- Ibrahim, A. (2018) The Rohingyas: Inside Myanmar’s Hidden Genocide. Hurst & Company.
- International Court of Justice. (2020) Application of the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide (The Gambia v. Myanmar). ICJ.
- International Organization for Migration. (2019) Rohingya Humanitarian Crisis Response. IOM.
- United Nations. (2017) Report of the Special Rapporteur on the Situation of Human Rights in Myanmar. UN Human Rights Council.
- World Health Organization. (2021) Rohingya Crisis: Health Response. WHO.
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