ABSTRACT
What is the role of civil society in pushing for democratisation under military rule, advocating policy reforms and democratic deepening within a hybrid regime, and resisting autocratisation and military dictatorship? This chapter addresses these questions through a case study of politically oriented civil society organisations in Myanmar during the last two decades. The case study shows that Myanmar's political opening brought increased state tolerance and a growing number of non-governmental organisations, but institutional and political constraints prevented these NGOs from playing a role in policy reforms and democratic deepening during the decade of hybrid rule. After the military coup in 2021, civil society has been dominated by politicised mass movements with transformative agendas and impacts. The Myanmar case thus adds contextual depth and nuance to general theories on the role of insurgent and institutionalised civil society in the contentious politics of democratisation and autocratisation.
