Thesis on Myanmar

MYANMAR’S ROHINGYA REFUGEES THE SEARCH FOR HUMAN SECURITY

Master thesis by Linda Crossman, B.A Georgetown University Washington, D.C. September 29, 2014 [The aim of this thesis is to analyze the human rights violations against one minority group in Myanmar – the Rohingya – by the majority Buddhist Rakhinese population with central government support, in order to call the international community to pursue immediate, cohesive diplomatic action to address this humanitarian crisis in Rakhine state. The scope of this thesis, which is organized in five chapters, focuses on the early 21st century from 2000 – 2014, but it includes earlier background information on Myanmar and the plight of the Rohingya. This thesis includes a Preface, which contains maps and images of Myanmar and its people, for the benefit of the reader…… ]


Myanmar A case study on Internet freedom and responsible investment in Myanmar’s emerging Telecom scene

Master thesis by There’se Noami Jonsson, Uppsala Universitet 2014 [Myanmar is one of the least connected countries in the world, with an estimated Internet penetration at just over one per cent. The country was ruled by a rigid military regime for half a century, who had a firm grip on the media and brutally cracked down upon any political dissent. In 2011, in a surprise move, a process of reform and a transition towards democracy began under the leadership of President Thein Sein. As a result, foreign investment in the country’s lagging telecom sector is now emerging. This thesis is a case study that partly aims to identify the major challenges facing Internet freedom as it relates to the human rights discourse and partly explores how two foreign telecom companies, Telenor and Ooredoo, are approaching responsible investment as they enter the country.]


Innvandrerkirke og integrering

Master Thesis by Helge Kristoffersen Høyskolen i Volda 2013 [Chin Burmese refugees make up about 95 % of the members of the church. The chin majority nurture a common language and culture that prevents the last 5 % of the members from being integrated into the church. These 5 % tend to use other churches more frequently and have more friends that belong to other ethnic and religious groups.]


Chinese Foreign Direct Investment in Myanmar: Remarkable Trends and Multilayered Motivations

Thesis by Travis Mitchell Lund University 2012 [ Following the national responsibility theory in the school of international society which argues that national interest drives a state’s foreign policy, this thesis first attempts to deconstruct China’s foreign direct investment (FDI) in Myanmar since 2004 by picking apart and manipulating financial data in order to determine the resulting trends and developments. It then analyzes how Myanmar’s abundant natural resources could help alleviate China’s rising energy demands and how Chinese FDI can enhance China’s political security, reduce energy costs, diversify its imports, and mitigate mineral shortages. ]


The role of civil society in promoting democracy, good governance, peace and national reconciliation in Myanmar

Master Thesis by Peter Sang Lian Thang, University of Agder 2013 [Recent rapid yet systematic shift in political landscape The country name ‘Burma’ was changed to ‘Myanmar’ by previous military regime in 1989, but the United Nation recognized ‘Myanmar’ as official name. 6 particularly after the 2010 election has opened wider opportunities for CS to engage more effectively across the country socio economic spectrum. The study also investigates and compares changes in CS role between prior to and after the election in 2010. Through qualitative combined with empirical analysis, the study confirms that CS plays significant role in promoting democracy, good governance, peace and national reconciliation in Myanmar. The author finds though that CS still lacks capacity and human resource necessary for a more coordinated and collaborative force to generate effective and vibrant impact on reform . ]


The kingdom and the poor in Luke : a biblical interpretation with application to the Chin churches

Master Thesis by Khen Chum, MF-NORWEGIAN SCHOOL OF THEOLOGY, 2011 [The primary purpose of this project is first and foremost to explore the true biblical meaning of basileia tou theou for the Chin Churches. It also aims to warn against the dangers of biblical interpretation of extreme liberation theologians and to direct to sound biblical interpretation of the kingdom of God and its ethical implication. It also aims at warning and giving instruction to the threat of materialism among the Chins. It is of capital importance because today more than a hundred thousand of the Chins migrated abroad, especially to the West where secularism and materialism got a firm root. ]


An analysis of the language challenges faced by Myanmar refugee students in Norway

Master Thesis by Myat H.K Munthe , University of Stavanger [This study aims to increase understanding the level of language proficiency and educational achievement for the first-generation immigrant students. The research provides an obligating account of the lives, dreams, and frustrations of Myanmar refugee students who arrive here at a later stage of their schooling. The intention with this study is to collect information from this particular group in order to understand the challenges they faced in their schooling. Thus, I counted not only on their arrival age, but also individual conditions from the background of previous education, language skills, and support from community. School and parents are considered as the important factors for the educational achievement. This research examines the link between the level of language proficiency and educational achievement, focus on school system and educational policies. ]


Nuremberg Revisited in Burma? An Assessment of the Potential Liability of Transnational Corporations and Their Officials in Burma under International Criminal Law

Master Thesis by Johnson Navis, Mary Ann, Victoria University of Wellington 2010 [This dissertation focuses on the role played by officials of transnational corporations and transnational corporations themselves in the situation in Burma. The main aim of this dissertation is to assess the liability of officials of transnational corporations in Burma and transnational corporations in Burma for crimes against humanity such as slave labour and for war crimes such as plunder under International Criminal Law. However at present transnational corporations cannot be prosecuted under International Criminal Law as the International Criminal Court only has jurisdiction to try natural persons and not legal persons.]


The Dark Side of Economic Sanctions: Unveiling the Plight of Women from Myanmar/Burma

Master Thesis by April Vuorijärvi, Malmø university 2009 [The aim of this study is to examine how economic sanctions affect women disproportionately and illustrate the specific ways they suffer in contrast to other parts of the populations under the same sanctions regime. It is also interesting to find why the international community continues to perpetuate economic sanctions in spite of mounting evidence. My investigation focuses on the current economic sanctions and boycotts imposed on Myanmar as I attempt to discover whether this has led to the unexpected implications of women migrating or being trafficked into neighboring Thailand’s entertainment industry.]


An Examination of the State of Nation-Building in Myanmar

Master Thesis by Inga Gruss (MSc Contemporary Asian Studies, Universiteit van Amsterdam) [This thesis explores the issue of nation-building in Myanmar. It focuses on the post-colonial period and examines the attempts of the state to mould the Myanmar nation according to the state’s notions and ideology. The perceptions of veteran politicians and civil society actors on the nation-building project will be compared with de facto experiences about the state of nation-building in Myanmar. The conduct of state and society during the relief work in the early phase of the cyclone Nargis is used as case study to put assumptions, opinions and propaganda about nation-building in Myanmar to test. The main question guiding my research relates to the ideological reach of the state. How far does the reach of the state go, in particular when it enjoys little domestic public support and popularity, in influencing its population ideologically? Which role can a state play in a case like Myanmar in forming and building a nation?]


The Ethnopolitics of Democratisation: Democratisation, nationality policy and ethnic relations in Burma, 1948-1962 

Thesis by  Camilla Buzzi, University of Oslo 2003 [The thesis is a historical case study. However, it also provides a background for assessing the future prospects of democracy in Burma. Indeed, ethnic identity has played a key role in Burmese politics since the colonial era, and it remains a significant factor for the understanding of current Burmese politics and the lack of democratic development in this country. Ethnicity continues to shape Burmese politics, together with the impact of Burma’s colonial past, the emergence of the armed forces as the dominant political and economic actor in the country as well as the ongoing civil war]


Waves of democracy: Contemporary exile journalism: A case study of The Democratic Voice of Burma 

Master Thesis by Jade Josefine Nordahl, University of Oslo 2009 [This thesis presents the operations of a modern exile media organisation, the Democratic Voice of Burma (DVB). Through qualitative interviews it explores the development and current state of this media organization, and the measures and initiatives DVB employs in order to establish and maintain professional integrity. The theoretical foundation of the concept «professional» is explored and discussed in relation to studying the challenges that arise as external and internal forces pressure DVB to adhere to this concept, which is frequently invoked in, and for, a context quite unlike the one in which DVB is operating.]


Do dreams come true? ‘Illegal’ young female Shan refugees in Northern Thailand: coping with contradicting (in)securities.

Master Thesis by Ursula Cats, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam 2009 [This thesis will specifically focus on young women; I want to depart from the stereotype of refugees which characterizes them as one homogenous group stereotypically depicted by an adult male. Besides this, within youth and refugee discourses females are given less voice than men and are mostly seen as victims, which leads to policy making based on victimization theories. They are seen as lacking agency. What do the young women themselves think about their situation and how do they cope with the external pressure they live within? The aim of this thesis is to take a bottom up approach to get an understanding of the young females’ perceptions; what are their fears, what do they think of their life chances and what are their future dreams?]


Peace for Burma and Rethinking the Roots of its Conflicts 

Master Thesis by Soe Myat New,Stadtschlaining/ Burg, Austria 2008 [This thesis studies conflict and civil war in Burma. It focuses on some principal political players in Burma affairs and examines the influence of these players on the conflict situation. It questions the root causes of the conflict by throwing a different light on the ethnic conflicts, long seen as at the core of the civil war. It argues that ethnic identity has been misused for political purposes by scholars and organisations, thereby unnecessarily deepening the ethnic divisions and prolonging the crisis. It refutes the argument that international economic sanctions are helping to resolve the political crisis, and ultimately the Burmese people.]


International Humanitarian Assistance to Myanmar 

Master thesis by Paul Douglas Inwood, Massey University, Palmerston Norh, New Zealand 2008 [This thesis seeks to critically examine international aid to Myanmar so as to determine whether under present conditions humanitarian assistance should, and can, be effectively provide to the country. In doing so recent theories relating to humanitarian assistance and intervention are reviewed and the historical and political circumstances that have influenced the humanitarian situation in Myanmar are explored. A descriptionof current humanitarian situation and levels of international assistance is provided, and donor, practitioner and activist perspectives on international assistance are determined]


Mission Challenge: The Strategy and Method of Evangelism Among Buddhist People in Myanmar

Master thesis by Van Hei Lian, MF Norwegian School of Theology, 2015 [The central purpose of writing this Thesis is to discuss some of the possible strategies and methods of evangelism and doing mission in Myanmar in this modern day. The paper will include the comparison doctrine of Buddhist and theological responding to the main teaching of Theravada Buddhism in order to understand how to have faith dialogue with Buddhists in doing mission. This paper is also a challenge and contributions to theological schools and Christian colleges, local churches and foreign missionaries that willing to introduce Christ in Myanmar. Christianity was first introduced to Myanmar by Catholic missionaries in the sixteenth century. However, these missionaries withdrew because of many difficulties……. ]

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