1.

Record Nr.

UNINA9910794104403321

Autore

Thant Su Mon

Titolo

Party mergers in Myanmar : a new development / / Su Mon Thant [[electronic resource]]

Pubbl/distr/stampa

Singapore : , : ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute, , 2020

ISBN

981-4881-79-1

Descrizione fisica

1 online resource (42 pages) : digital, PDF file(s)

Collana

Trends in Southeast Asia ; ; 2020, issue 8

Disciplina

320.9591

Soggetti

Political parties - Burma

Politics, Practical - Burma

Burma Politics and government 1988-

Lingua di pubblicazione

Inglese

Formato

Materiale a stampa

Livello bibliografico

Monografia

Note generali

Title from publisher's bibliographic system (viewed on 08 Oct 2021).

Nota di contenuto

Foreword -- Executive summary -- Introduction -- Unattractive strategy becomes a trend -- Cross-alliance collaborations -- Move towards a shared federal vision -- Case studies : Five ethnic party mergers -- Conclusion.

Sommario/riassunto

Party mergers are a new development in Myanmar politics. Given that such mergers often assist the consolidation of new democratic regimes, some broader system-wide effects may also occur. Myanmar's ethnic parties consistently choose merger strategies over other forms of pre-electoral coalition. This highlights a transition from a focus on questions of authoritarianism and democracy to one on the creation of a federal system of government with a stronger cleavage between competing Bamar and ethnic nationalisms. Despite cooperation among political parties outside the electoral process, pre-electoral coalitions such as constituency-sharing or campaigning for allies have generally not been successful. Five of the six mergers among ethnic parties attempted prior to the 2015 general election failed. However, between 2017 and 2019, five mergers involving parties representing the Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Kayin or Karen, and Mon ethnicities, achieved success. The successful mergers were motivated not only by desires for electoral success in 2020 but also by shared federal aims, which involve ethnic parties in Chin, Kachin, Kayah, Kayin or Karen, and Mon states forming



a strong local party in their respective regions to strive for ethnic equality and self-determination. The mergers are between parties with markedly different platforms and their success is conditioned by their preferences for particular kinds of federalism. Mergers cannot guarantee electoral success. And other pre-electoral coalitions, such as avoiding competition for the same constituencies, also proved successful in the 2018 by-elections. But what mergers can uniquely do is respond to public demand for parties to unite and make the resulting party stronger in terms of resources and public support. In general, mergers can reduce system fragmentation, avoid vote wastage and lead to the formation of stable parties. Ethnic party mergers also simplify party labels for voters and make it easier for them to vote on the basis of ethnic preferences. In addition, mergers can increase public interest and political participation among members of ethnic communities.