ABSTRACT
This chapter applies the trial and error model to explain how the military developed into a strong, authoritarian, military regime. The chapter begins by identifying how Myanmar’s military was able to remain highly cohesive while balancing its dual roles as a defensive force and a government. Unlike other military regimes in the region (for example contemporary Thailand or Indonesia under Suharto), Myanmar’s junta never co-opted other societal actors into any position of genuine power, although it did utilize its allies (such as the regime-backed cronies) to further its agenda. The military has adapted its regime type to reflect changing circumstances, without forfeiting its predominant role over the control of politics and the state. This chapter concludes with a discussion on the development of Myanmar’s military regime through a trial and error process, including a detailed account of the country’s post-1988 constitutional development and its seven-step roadmap to a “disciplined” democracy.
