Whose Reforms? A Critical Analysis of the Media Reform Processes in Myanmar

• In Event: 131. Media, Reform, and Myanmar's Political Transition. Sponsored by the Burma Studies Group

Abstract

Myanmar has seen tremendous changes since the political opening in the last five years, with dramatic developments involving the media sector. The decades-old regime of censorship and state dominated media have been replaced by a more open and liberal environment to allow private and independent media to flourish, making Myanmar one of the few countries in Southeast Asia to witness significant media reforms. These changes are at a nascent stage, and experiences from other countries in the region like Indonesia and Thailand show a mixed bag of results on whether the reforms can be long term or if they can backslide, respectively. This study is informed by research on the media reform processes in Latin America, the post-Communist countries and Southeast Asia, where political transitions occurred in the 1980s and 1990s. In brief, the studies have recognised the challenges and limitations that come with a market approach to reforming the economic and legislative environments for the media, as well as adopting the dominant western models of media systems and policies. This paper will overview initial findings on key factors necessary to sustain the reforms and support the consolidation of democracy Myanmar. Questions of who gets to participate in processes related to democratisation will also be explored to understand the roles of civil society and communities, often at the edge of the mainstream politics, in making the reforms more meaningful.

Author

• Gayathry Venkiteswaran, University of Nottingham University Malaysia