MYANMAR: Democratisation Foreign Policy and Elections

The Myanmar poll results of 2015 has once again proved to the world that public opinion is unanimously in favor of genuine democratization in the country, democratization  as epitomized by the selfsacrifice of its opposition leader, party workers, students, journalists, Buddhist monk population, young and old, against anysort of a quasi/proxy military rule at the centre. Since 2011, the militaryturned civilian administration in Myanmar has undertaken formidable changes on all fronts political, economic and sociocultural to promote `democratic transition` there. But freedom has never been wholehearted, as there are clauses in the Constitution that still empowers and protects the military, favors their vested interests in the booming extractive sectors of the economy, and fails to adequately address issues of real internal conflict and tension, human rights violation against minorities and deters real participation of regional population in the overall development process of the country.

The twodays International Conference at Maulana Abul Kalam Azad Institute of Asian Studies, Kolkata, India attempted to debate and examine the merits and demerits of the democratization process in Myanmar, the country`s preparedness for the elections, it`s handling of ethnic and religious issues. And the way these developments are perceived by immediate neighboring countries, including India and China, the two Asian giants jostling for more economic power and with whom Daw Aung San Suu has vowed to maintain good relationship in future.

This edited volume has been the culmination of the team work of the head of MAKAIAS, the Myanmar Consulate in Kolkata, the administrative and library staff, Fellows/RA`s, students, scholars and thinktanks from Kolkata, India and abroad.