Burma's Security Myths, Mysteries and Misconceptions - Routledge Security in Asia Pacific Series

Despite greater attention being paid to Burma by officials, the media and the public over the past 20 years, there remain significant information gaps about this reclusive country. There is widespread ignorance about Burma's security and its place in the evolving strategic environment of the Asia-Pacific region. This book sketches out the difficulty of making firm judgements about key issues relating to Burma's national security, and its current place in the regional strategic environment. Using a number of case studies (of security issues or of Burma's international links) it reveals questionable analyses, which have led — or could lead — to ill-conceived foreign and defence policies. This is a major contribution to the literature on Burma, and also to the study of security trends in the Asia-Pacific. By dispelling the most pervasive myths, it prompts reconsideration of a number of current assessments of Burma and its role in the evolving strategic environment of the region, and of long-standing, possibly self-defeating, policies towards Burma. Along the way, the book will help illuminate a number of broader conceptual issues, such as the problems of making accurate strategic assessments in a highly charged political atmosphere, and the international community's limited ability to influence 'pariah' regimes.