Research Publications

Academic theses and dissertations are regularly published and widely disseminated in YUOE Journal, Monographs, Universities Research Journal (URJ), Myanmar Academy of Arts and Science (MAAS) Journal, AsTEN Research Journal and International online Journals for sharing knowledge and contributing to the development of our education.

Myanmar Academy of Art & Science List of Research

No. Researcher Title Abstract Year
1801 Chaw Chaw Su Win ACHIEVEMENTS OF INDONESIAN CSOs IN THE DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION: LESSONS FOR MYANMAR* Throughout the long process of democratic transition in Indonesia, CSOs played the leading role in various areas, such as improving the public awareness on political rights, civil liberties and serving as a watchdog on government’s activities. Mainly, CSOs serving as the main players in creating a vibrant civil society, upgrade themselves first to be active in terms of strategies, for instance; how to deal with the state institutions and to develop effective means for change. Thus, this paper focuses on how to create active and strong CSOs in Myanmar based on the experience of Indonesia. Moreover, it also takes into consideration of external and internal factors for strengthening Myanmar CSOs in transition. 2021
1802 Phyu Phyu Kyaw ANALYSIS ON COOPERATION BETWEEN ASIAN INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT BANK (AIIB) AND ASEAN COUNTRIES The key agenda of Chinese foreign economic policy since 2013 has been Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The initiative is also a central component of Chinese regional economic and foreign policy. Its goal is to boost economic connectivity from China to Central and South Asia, the Middle East and Europe (the Silk Road Economic Belt) and along a maritime route, from Southeast Asia to the Middle East, Africa and Europe (the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road). To support the goal, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced the initiative of a China-led multilateral development bank, which was known as Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) in 2013. It is a response to serve financial gap for sustainable infrastructure in Asia and to promote its geopolitical interests overseas as an emerging power. The AIIB cooperates with existing Multilateral Development Banks (MDBs) and takes full advantage of their strengths in promoting economic development in Asia region. It supports China’s banking policy to finance overseas investment projects. Most of AIIB’s signed contract projects are strategic in nature, complementing the BRI. ASEAN and China have been cooperating closely as a top dialogue partner. The total share of ASEAN countries in AIIB is 7.6 percentage of the total amount. In the meantime, AIIB provided some infrastructure projects with the amount of one billion in ASEAN countries. The objectives of the research are to analyse the evolution of the AIIB and to evaluate its cooperation with ASEAN countries. The findings highlighted that its cooperation is well suited to recipient’s needs and supporting development and infrastructure in developing countries in ASEAN, especially, regional connectivity although there are some challenges. 2021
1803 Thi Thi Lwin CHINA’S MULTILAYERED RELATIONS APPROACH TOWARDS MYANMAR SINCE 2011 Before 2010 general elections, China gained more influence in Myanmar - China bilateral relations. After 2010 general elections, China changed its approach in accordance with the improvement of Myanmar’s political situation. The relations between the two countries reached a turning point especially when National League for Democracy (NLD) Party won some seats in Hluttaw in 2012 by-election. Since that time, China reanalyzed their relations and changed its strategy towards Myanmar. In attempting to accommodate Myanmar’s political situation, China practiced multilayered approaches. Since 2011, China recognized Myanmar peoples' anti- Chinese sentiment and tried to change this sentiment by emphasizing the opinion of Myanmar people through the strategy of multilayered relations. To improve its image and relations with the local communities, China conducted massive public relations activities inside Myanmar. China believed that the friendly relations with Myanmar will support Chinese interests because Myanmar is also a key component of China’s “Belt and Road” initiative (BRI). China aimed to forge closer ties with Myanmar through construction projects and bilateral cooperation in energy and finance. It is assured that China is seeking to control Myanmar and taking advantage of Myanmar’s circumstances during development and then it has adjusted its posture and policy toward Myanmar. The research is conducted through a qualitative analysis by means of archival research relying on both primary and secondary sources. This paper intends to highlight China’s strategy towards Myanmar since 2011in the changing situation of Myanmar and examine why China practiced multilayered approach towards Myanmar. 2021
1804 Aye Aye Myat ASEAN'S STAND IN RAKHINE CASE: INVOLVEMENT OR NOT The international organizations have blamed the Myanmar government concerning the 2015 and 2017 problems in the Rakhine case. Some delegations of ASEAN Parliamentarian for Human Rights (APHR) that are from Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, and Thailand told that more substantial regional action and a stronger voice from ASEAN itself are needed. However, ASEAN has not put any blames on the Myanmar government. ASEAN has cooperated with the Myanmar government in providing humanitarian assistance. The purpose of this research is to highlight the ASEAN's attitude on Myanmar, to explore why ASEAN keeps silent and to express the strength of the regional organization, ASEAN. To complement this purpose, the research question has come whether ASEAN has involved or limited involved or not. By using the qualitative and archival research methods, this research has come up with solutions to why ASEAN has limited involvement in the Rakhine case is upholding the noninterference principle and ASEAN way. Preferring organizational unity, ASEAN has only involved in coordination with the Myanmar government in providing humanitarian assistance and not interfere to tackle the root causes of the Rakhine case by recognizing as a domestic complex issue. 2021
1805 Oak Soe San ASSESSING MYANMAR’S GEOPOLITICAL CONSIDERATION: CLASSICAL CONTEXT TO CRITICAL DISCOURSE The aim of the study is to draw up a holistic picture of Myanmar’s geopolitical consideration, and discuss the features of geopolitics in terms of both classical and critical approaches. It examines the transformation of classical geopolitics to critical geopolitical discourse and it also attempts to apply these approaches of geopolitics to Myanmar’s geopolitical consideration. Classical geopolitics emphasis on the physical space, power, technology by reflecting the conventional aspects of national economic, political, and military strategy and on the other hand, critical geopolitics focus on other important factors like quality of the environment knowledge, geoeconomic factors by challenging traditional aspects of geopolitical thinking. In assessing Myanmar geopolitical consideration, this study will highlight how Myanmar’s situation deals with classical context and critical discourse by focusing China-Myanmar interactions. Based on this background, the main research question of this study is “how does current Myanmar’s geopolitics go along traditional (classical) of geopolitics, or along to critical approach while trend of the geopolitics is transformed from classical to critical geopolitics”. In terms of classical geopolitical approach, it try to highlight the concept of Lines of Communication (LOC) in Myanmar’s strategic concerns by giving example of some significant projects under China’s BRI. As for the critical geopolitical discourse, Myanmar–China relations in the context of domestic debate on Myitsone dam project is assessed in line with China’s involvement and concerns in the dam project. 2021
1806 Hein Myat Thu MANGROVE CONSERVATION EFFORTS IN AYEYARWADY DELTA Mangrove conservation is very important for the people in Myanmar. Mangrove provides environmental protection, food sufficiency and socio-economic life. Mangrove also promotes an opportunity for future generations to meet the needs of vital livelihood. These consequences highlighted the need for conservation of mangrove. In Myanmar, mangroves are mainly found in three geographical regions, the Ayeyarwady Delta, and Rakhine and Taninthayi Coasts. Among them, Ayeyarwady Delta was the largest mangrove degradation. Population growth, lead to changes in land-use and over-utilization of resources. Moreover, under the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC) and State Peace and Development Council (SPDC), the government’s agriculture and aquaculture expansion policies led to massive depletion of mangrove. The Forest Department (FD) has responsibility to conserve the mangrove. Thus, the FD, in collaboration with the UNDP and the FAO, started UNDP/FAO projects in 1991. The Cyclone Nargis struck Myanmar on 2 May 2008 and devastated quite a number of Ayeyarwady mangroves. Governments have encouraged the private sector to participate in mangrove plantation. In collaboration with NGOs and IGOs/INGOs, the FD conducted their tasks for community development and protection and conservation of mangrove systematically through community participation before and after 2008. The research aims to contribute the findings for the development of mangrove conservation which helps not only to safeguard natural ecosystems but also to alleviate poverty in the Ayeyarwady Delta. The objective of the research is to analyze how mangrove forests can be conserved in collaboration with Government agency, Local NGOs and IGOs/INGOs. 2021
1807 Aye Ei Ei Aung Than CHINA-MYANMAR ECONOMIC CORRIDOR (CMEC) AND ITS SIGNIFICANT FACTORS By using the descriptive method, this paper tries to find out the significant factors of the China Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC). These factors tell how CMEC is being undertaken between the two countries, the situations of the projects under CMEC and the public considerations and assumption upon them. The perspectives of the two countries, the major investment projects of CMEC and the public concern are mainly discussed in this research. Based upon these factors this paper claims that CMEC will bring opportunities as well as disadvantageous to local Myanmar communities if there is no strong government’s role. 2021
1808 Myint Zu Win THE EFFECTS OF PUBLIC DIPLOMACY ON TOURISM DEVELOPMENT IN MYANMAR’S DEMOCRATIC TRANSITION Public diplomacy tries to attract by drawing attention and understanding of foreign publics for its nation’s values, culture, and policies through broadcasting, subsidizing cultural exports, arranging exchanges, etc. Tourism development contributes to transfer the economic mechanism, bringing the source of revenue for the state budget, attracting foreign investment and exporting products, affecting positively to the development of the related economic business. In order to develop tourism sector as a non-smoking industry, it is necessary for Myanmar to utilize the country’s public diplomacy in the fourth industrial revolution age. Based on this background, this paper is an attempt to study the effects of public diplomacy on tourism development for the economic growth of Myanmar. Among the ASEAN countries, Vietnam tourism development will be examined to take the lessons learnt for Myanmar tourism development. The research question focuses on why public diplomacy plays an effective tool to develop tourism sector and how public diplomacy and tourism development link for the economic growth of Myanmar. 2021
1809 Yin Yin Kyi MYANMAR-INDIA RELATIONS: ECONOMIC COOPERATION AFTER 2011 Myanmar is gradually embracing wide-ranging in political, economic and social reforms since 2011. The political transition of Myanmar is an important and unique opportunity for India to deepen its relations with its eastern neighbour. India is a friendly neighbor who had been assisting Myanmar in various sectors such as economic, industrial, human resources development and so on. Moreover, Myanmar opens up new avenues for Indian business engagement that can bring a new impetus for regional economic cooperation and regional development. Myanmar-India business interactions have been growing steadily over the years. They focus the need to improve market access and further facilitate trade between the two countries under the relevant bilateral and regional trading arrangements. Furthermore, Myanmar-India economic cooperation covers a vast area, including trade, investment, tourism, power and energy, infrastructure development and technical cooperation. They agreed to promote shared interests of the people of the two countries and in a mutually beneficial interdependent economic environment. In this context, this research attempts to examine how Myanmar and India cooperate for the development of bilateral economic relations after 2011. It also traces the economic policy changes in Myanmar and India. 2021
1810 Thida COOPERATION BETWEEN MYANMAR AND CHINA IN ENERGY SECTOR: OIL AND GAS SINCE 1988 As the development and utilization of energy has boosted development of the world economy and human society, the resource- rich countries became important on the political stage of international arena.Myanmar is not only strategically important for its location but also rich in natural resource especially energy. It is a strategic country for the region and many coutries. Likewise, it has been a crucial interest for neighbouring countries particularly China. China has been a major economic partner while it has cooperated closely in Myanmar’s oil and gas sector. Moreover, as a consequence of isolation from the international community after the 1988 military coup, Myanmar needed China’s investment in its economy. By cooperation with China, Myanmar also gained necessary income from trade and foreign direct investment (FDI). However, Myanmar’s growth pattern, with a major concentration in energy and the extractive industries created huge pressure on its environment. The successive governments managed energy cooperation and Myanmar faced troublesome condition in local community and domestic politics. Under the NLD government, plans were underway to amend existing laws, bylaws and regulations in oil and gas sector in the country. Based on circumstances, objectives of the research are to analyze how Myanmar has used oil and gas for interests in its relations with China since 1988 and to find out how Myanmar has troublesome circumstances domestically by cooperation with China. 2021