The Myanmar military has launched a new, brutal offensive to reclaim territory lost since the 2021 coup, using airstrikes and drones. However, the article argues that the military cannot ultimately win because it has lost the support of the people.
A study jointly prepared by Chatham House and the Center on International Cooperation at New York University in April 2023 estimated that nearly half of populations in fragile and conflict-affected states live under conditions where central authority has either lost or cannot retain effective control.
A key consequence of the coup and the military’s retreat has been the emergence of new, participatory forms of local governance in many areas. These structures, often led by civil society, youth, and community leaders, represent a significant departure from the military’s authoritarian model.
Read the full article: Solving the conflict in Myanmar