Marie Lall, Understanding Reform in Myanmar: People and Society in the Wake of Military Rule

Marie Lall’s Understanding Reform in Myanmar: People and Society in the Wake of Military Rule builds upon the author’s knowledge of the country’s politics and provides the reader with a clear and easily accessible narrative. The book retraces the history of the country from 2005 until 2010 to convey a picture of Myanmar’s development over the years. It offers an insight into the origin of its many ethnic conflicts, while describing in great detail the process of democratic transition that the country is undergoing at the moment. By doing so, the author sheds light on the growing, but understudied, segments of society—the middle class and civil society groups—and their positive role in advocating political reform. As such, the book presents an innovative and original approach by focusing on the upstream shift from Aung San Suu Kyi and the National League for Democracy to civil society and the popular masses. These are supported by the interviews with members of civil society organizations who reflect on the process of democratization in Myanmar.