Introduction
This essay examines the complex dynamics of civil-military relations in Myanmar following the military coup on 1 February 2021, which ousted the democratically elected government of Aung San Suu Kyi. From an anthropological perspective, it explores how fear, authority, and resistance shape interactions between civilians and the military, known as the Tatmadaw, in a context of political upheaval. The purpose of this analysis is to understand how power is negotiated in everyday life under military rule, focusing on the interplay of historical legacies, cultural norms, and emerging forms of opposition. Key points include the historical entrenchment of military authority, civilian strategies of resistance, and the role of fear as both a tool of control and a catalyst for defiance. This discussion draws on academic sources to provide a broad, yet grounded, exploration of these themes, acknowledging the limitations of current knowledge given the ongoing nature of the crisis.
Historical Context of Military Authority
The Tatmadaw has long dominated Myanmar’s political landscape, with military rule spanning much of the post-independence period from 1962 to 2011 (Steinberg, 2010). This entrenched authority is rooted in a nationalist ideology that positions the military as the guardian of unity and sovereignty, often at the expense of ethnic minorities and civilian dissenters. The 2021 coup, justified by unfounded claims of electoral fraud, reasserted this dominance, dismantling a decade of fragile democratic progress. Anthropologically, this can be viewed as a reassertion of hierarchical power structures, where authority is legitimised through historical narratives and enforced through violence. Indeed, the military’s use of lethal force against protesters—resulting in over 1,500 deaths by late 2021 (Human Rights Watch, 2022)—demonstrates how fear is weaponised to suppress opposition. However, such tactics also reveal the limitations of coercive power, as they often provoke further resistance rather than compliance.
Civilian Resistance and Everyday Negotiations
Despite the climate of fear, civilians have employed diverse strategies to resist military control, ranging from mass protests to non-violent disobedience, such as the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM). The CDM, involving strikes by public sector workers, including teachers and healthcare professionals, reflects a collective refusal to legitimise the coup (Selth, 2021). From an anthropological lens, these acts of defiance highlight how ordinary citizens reclaim agency in oppressive contexts, often at great personal risk. For instance, nightly pot-banging rituals in urban areas serve as symbolic protests, reinforcing community solidarity against the Tatmadaw’s authority. Furthermore, resistance is not uniform; ethnic armed organisations in border regions have intensified armed conflict, complicating the civil-military binary (International Crisis Group, 2021). This diversity of responses underscores the challenge of unifying resistance while illustrating the cultural and political pluralism of Myanmar’s society.
Fear as Control and Catalyst
Fear operates as a dual mechanism in post-coup Myanmar, acting both as a tool of military control and a motivator for civilian action. The Tatmadaw’s tactics, including arbitrary arrests and internet blackouts, create a pervasive atmosphere of surveillance and dread (Human Rights Watch, 2022). Anthropologically, this can be seen as a form of social control, disrupting trust and communication within communities. Yet, arguably, this same fear galvanises resistance, as seen in the formation of underground networks providing humanitarian aid and information. Such networks reveal how fear, while debilitating, can also foster resilience and innovation in response to oppression (Selth, 2021). This duality suggests that the military’s reliance on fear may ultimately undermine its authority, as it fuels the very dissent it seeks to quash.
Conclusion
In conclusion, civil-military relations in post-coup Myanmar are shaped by a dynamic interplay of fear, authority, and resistance. The Tatmadaw’s historical dominance and use of coercive fear tactics aim to reassert control, yet these measures often provoke diverse and creative forms of civilian opposition, from symbolic protests to armed struggle. This analysis, grounded in anthropological perspectives, highlights the complexity of power negotiations in everyday life under military rule. The implications of these dynamics are profound, suggesting that while the military holds significant structural power, its legitimacy remains contested. Future research might explore how these tensions evolve, particularly as international responses and internal divisions within Myanmar’s society continue to shape the conflict. Generally, understanding these interactions offers insight not only into Myanmar’s crisis but also into broader questions of power and resistance in authoritarian contexts.
References
- Human Rights Watch. (2022) Myanmar: A Year of Military Coup Brings Death and Devastation. Human Rights Watch.
- International Crisis Group. (2021) Myanmar’s Coup Shakes Up Its Ethnic Conflicts. International Crisis Group Report, No. 319.
- Selth, A. (2021) Myanmar’s Military Mindset: An Exploration of Authority and Resistance. Australian National University Press.
- Steinberg, D. I. (2010) Burma/Myanmar: What Everyone Needs to Know. Oxford University Press.
