Fostering developmental guardianship: the case of Myanmar’s Tatmadaw

• Main Author: Priamarizki, Adhi
• Other Authors: A. Chong
• Format: Book Chapter
• Language: English
• Published: Bristol University Press 2023
• Subjects: Social sciences::Political science; Civil-Military Relations; Tatmadaw; Myanmar Politics
• Online Access: https://hdl.handle.net/10356/166189; https://bristoluniversitypress.co.uk/asian-military-evolutions
• Institution: Nanyang Technological University

This chapter explains the return of the Tatmadaw at the helm of government in Myanmar as well as the military’s involvement in COVID–-19 management and exploitation to preserve its interests. One element that previous studies have not yet discussed to explain the phenomenon, it is argued, is the influence of doctrinal belief of the Tatmadaw, which is inspired heavily by the developmental guardianship idea. The developmental guardianship thinking has driven the Tatmadaw’s return to politics as the military aims to maintain its centrality. Moreover, the global outbreak of COVID–-19 galvanized the military’s position as the developmental guardian and justified expansive military involvement in non-defence affairs. The discussion on the role of the doctrinal element, in this case the developmental guardianship paradigm, is this chapter’s main contribution to the contemporary literature on military and politics in Myanmar.