On February 1st, 2021, the Burmese military overthrew the democratically elected government in Myanmar. Long-time political dissident Aung San Suu Kyi was arrested along with the leadership of the ruling National League for Democracy. What were the causes of this coup? How should democracy advocates respond? What does this mean for democratisation and security in the region? Doug Becker speaks with Seinenu M. Thein-Lemelson, Kosal Path, and Jonathan Lijeblad.

Seinenu Thein-Lemelson is a visiting scholar in the Anthropology Department at UCLA. She is an expert in the Burmese democracy movement.

Kosal Path is an Associate Professor of Political Science at Brooklyn College, City University of New York. He is an expert in genocide and human rights and is the author of Vietnam’s Strategic Thinking during the Third Indochina War.

Jonathan Liljeblad is a Senior Lecturer in Law at ANU, Canberra. He is an expert in human rights law and is the author of Living with Myanmar.

Podcast:

 

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Disclaimer: The ideas expressed in this discussion reflect the views of the guests and not necessarily the views of The Big Q. 

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