Publication

This commentary examines the changing role of Myanmar's military since the start of the country's democratic transition in 2011. The author also explores the key challenges Myanmar's armed forces face in adapting to the country's democratic needs and contends that they are ill-prepared to deal with the state's burgeoning mass media and civil society. However, he suggests that a failure to build trust and confidence in civil-military relations will hinder the democratization and peace processes underway and that consequently, a concerted engagement strategy involving all politically relevant actors in the country is necessary.