In light of recent debates and studies on what political scientists call developmental authoritarianism and what some economists consider the East Asian model of economic growth, this book analyzes and evaluates Burma's economic performance under military management. It considers the relationship between democracy and economic growth, especially the thesis advanced by Asian authoritarian leaders that sociopolitical stability and discipline must be established as a prerequisite to economic development. Based upon empirical and historical facts, the book shows that the present military regime's denial of democracy to the people and its ostentatious economic reforms have not promoted real economic growth and human development in Burma. That regime, the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC), consists of poorly educated power-driven rulers. The book underscores that Burma's lack of economic development, despite its rich natural resources, lies in the regime's misuse of both human capital and those natural resources. They have depressed the country's social capability for past, present, and future economic development.

Although political upheavals and mass killings in the Socialist Republic of Burma (Myanmar) have received a great deal of international attention, scholars and journalists until now have failed to identify the unique underlying factors that produced this situation and helped to maintain military dictatorship under Ne Win's successors. Mya Maung looks into the deeper sources of Burmese behavior, focusing on the ancient tradition of sacred despotic rule, the undermining of social and cultural life during the British colonial period, and the impact of conflicting cultural realities on a Communist military elite whose attempts to reinstate absolute authority compounded their gross mismanagement of economic development. Maung presents an overview of the contradictions and biases expressed by writers--both foreign and Burmese--who have attempted to understand the Burmese and their country's recent history. He next describes a traditional society in which authoritarian rule existed side by side with a marked degree of social freedom and egalitarianism. Maung discusses the far-reaching impact of colonialism, the transition to independence, the Socialist military takeover, and the progressive repression and economic failures that led ultimately to economic collapse. Maung concludes with an examination of Burma's potential for utilizing its resources effectively and developing a stable economy in the transition to capitalism. Based on field research, hundreds of interviews, and Maung's firsthand knowledge of Burmese culture, this analysis contributes a balanced perspective and new information crucial to our understanding of a society that has been largely closed to outsiders for more than two decades.

A liberalization of economic policies has inspired considerable economic growth and encouraged the development of Burma's natural resources, but, according to David Steinberg, the current military government is akin to previous civilian governments in its commitment to socialism as a vehicle for development. The economic flexibility demonstrated by the government has not been matched by political liberalization, and as a result, economic growth remains a captive of administrative and policy constraints. Steinberg traces the origins and acceptance of socialist thought and planning in Burma and shows how socialist ideology has had to be tempered with pragmatism in order to make economic development possible. Looking to Burma's future, he also points out two central problems facing the country: strained minority relations, which have kept the nation from developing a sense of unity, and difficulties with political succession brought on by the military regime's preoccupation with perpetuating its own leadership.

The Communist Road to Capitalism is an in-depth exploration of the central role that the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) played in China's transformation from socialism to capitalism. While breaking with established orthodoxies that dominate stale discussions about China's rise as an economic power, This is both a bold reinterpretation of the history of the People's Republic of China and a searing critique of centralised state power. This book appeals to those who wish to better understand the dynamics and power of social struggles and the measures taken by governments to contain them through repression and co-optation.

Although political upheavals and mass killings in the Socialist Republic of Burma (Myanmar) have received a great deal of international attention, scholars and journalists until now have failed to identify the unique underlying factors that produced this situation and helped to maintain military dictatorship under Ne Win's successors. Mya Maung looks into the deeper sources of Burmese behavior, focusing on the ancient tradition of sacred despotic rule, the undermining of social and cultural life during the British colonial period, and the impact of conflicting cultural realities on a Communist military elite whose attempts to reinstate absolute authority compounded their gross mismanagement of economic development. Maung presents an overview of the contradictions and biases expressed by writers--both foreign and Burmese--who have attempted to understand the Burmese and their country's recent history. He next describes a traditional society in which authoritarian rule existed side by side with a marked degree of social freedom and egalitarianism. Maung discusses the far-reaching impact of colonialism, the transition to independence, the Socialist military takeover, and the progressive repression and economic failures that led ultimately to economic collapse. Maung concludes with an examination of Burma's potential for utilizing its resources effectively and developing a stable economy in the transition to capitalism. Based on field research, hundreds of interviews, and Maung's firsthand knowledge of Burmese culture, this analysis contributes a balanced perspective and new information crucial to our understanding of a society that has been largely closed to outsiders for more than two decades.