Author: Nyo Mee Oo
Oo, Nyo Mee, 2024 How have the Vulnerable Groups in Myanmar Used Non-violent Tactics to Resist Military Forces after the 2021 Coup?, Flinders University, College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
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The paper explores the non-violent tactics utilised by the vulnerable groups in Myanmar to resist against the military forces after the 2021 military coup and the role of the community’s solidarity to sustain the resistance movement from 2021 till the present, 2024. Various forms of nonviolent resistance including peaceful protests, civil disobedience movements, specifically online resistance campaigns which leads to offline movements were analysed with the aims of shedding the light on the dynamics, participations and effectiveness of these tactics. Social media content analysis, particularly Facebook which is the most common platforms that Myanmar people are using, was undertaken to explore how the intersection of traditional resistance methods with modern digital tools underscores the unique hybrid tactics utilised by the diverse communities in Myanmar, including low income families such as street vendors to challenge the military regime. For instance, the comparison of 1988 and 2021 movements against the Burmese military which are mainly led by the students and youths. The findings reveal the way nonviolent movements, sustained by community solidarity and digital platforms, can effectively influence public opinion and political landscapes. This research contributes to the broader understanding of people power in digital era to foster the democratic transitions and social change in the authoritarian settings.
Keywords: Military Coup/coup d'état/revolution/non-violent resistance, Vulnerable communities/low-income families, Myanmar/Burma/Southeast Asia, Mass media, Social media
Subject: Environmental Science thesis
Thesis type: Masters
Completed: 2024
School: College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences
Supervisor: Gerti Szili