Buddhism, Politics and Political Thought in Myanmar

Walton explains political dynamics in Myanmar through Buddhist thought, providing a conceptual framework for understanding Myanmar's ongoing political transition.

List of contents

Introduction; 1. A brief political history and cast of characters; 2. Building blocks of a moral universe; 3. On human nature and the nature of politics; 4. Order and freedom/liberation: purposes of politics; 5. What is 'politics' and what constitutes 'participation'?; 6. Discipline, rights, and morality: 'democracy' in contemporary Myanmar; Conclusion.

About the author

Matthew J. Walton is the Aung San Suu Kyi Senior Research Fellow in Modern Burmese Studies at St Antony's College, Oxford. He has published widely in academic journals and in the media on a number of topics, focused primarily on religion, politics and ethnicity in Myanmar.

Summary

Matthew J. Walton provides the first broad overview of the ways in which Buddhist ideas have influenced political thinking and politics in Myanmar. He explains multiple Burmese understandings of notions such as 'democracy' and 'political participation' that are crucial to understanding political dynamics in the country's current remarkable transition.

Product details

• Authors: Matthew J. Walton, Matthew J. (St Antony''s College Walton, Walton Matthew J.
• Publisher: Cambridge University Press ELT
• Languages: English
• Product format: Hardback
• Released: 31.01.2017
• EAN: 9781107155695
• ISBN: 978-1-107-15569-5
• No. of pages: 244
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > Religion/theology > Other religions; Social sciences, law, business > Political science > Political science and political education; Myanmar, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Constitutions, RELIGION / Religion, Politics & State, RELIGION / Buddhism / General, POLITICAL SCIENCE / World / Asian, Buddhism, Religion & politics, Religion and Politics, Constitution: government & the state, POLITICAL SCIENCE / Religion, Politics & State, Myanmar (Burma), Constitution: government and the state