Title: Socioeconomic endurance during the post-coup conflict : A case study of a community in mandalay region, central myanmar
Author: Miss Htet Yamone Win
Year: 2024
Keywords: Community Resilience, Socioeconomic hardship, post-coup adaptation, Myanmar
Theme: Civil society and Democracy
Advisor(s): Naruemon Thabchumpon
The full thesis available here.
Abstract: Myanmar’s post-coup context has severely affected the local communities through the ongoing multiple crises in governance, livelihoods, and security matters. Myanmar military’s attempt to coup in 2021 triggered widespread resistance, including both non-violence and armed-resistance strategies, and led to sharp economic decline and public service disruptions. Those crises have been reshaping everyone’s daily life in Myanmar. While the much of existing literature focuses on those who have fled the country, this study centers on the experiences of individuals and communities who remain in the country, embracing the direct impact of political repression, economic instability and social fragmentation. Focusing on a township in Mandalay Region of Central Myanmar, a place where both local resistance and military operations are strong, this research examines how residents continue to navigate their daily life struggles under authoritarian conditions. For many individuals in the township, migration is not a viable option due to financial difficulties, political constraints, family obligations, and the risks associated with fleeing. Through a qualitative case study approach, guided by the Community Resilience Framework (CRF), this study explores how those who remain have developed the adaptive strategies across four dimensions: economic development, social capital, information and communication, and then community competence. With a particular focus on a localized analysis, the findings reveal that resilience in this context is marked by constrained endurance shaped by fear, inequality, and emotional fatigue. Therefore, this study contributes to broader discussions on community resilience in the conflict-driven settings and offers valuable insights into how these populations persist in the face of systemic violence and state repression