The Theatre of Democratization

This chapter examines key protagonists of the transition, focusing on their agendas and popular support. It looks at the military and the USDP as its extended political wing, the NLD and Aung San Suu Kyi as its overwhelmingly dominant leader, activist monks, ethnic parties and armed groups, and leading political forces in civil society. After a brief theoretical introduction, it evaluates each set of actors through an analysis of relevant records, attitudes, evolution, and reception by the people. It finds that the country’s political spectrum has a triangular shape with a balancing role for monks, whose prominent role in society allows them to challenge both the illiberal attitudes professed by the military and its backers, and the moderately liberal attitudes held by Aung San Suu Kyi and NLD supporters.