Author Archives: burmastudiesgroup

Recent Pubs, 26 Feb 2024

This week’s New Pubs features Takahashi’s book on the socio-economic history of rural Myanmar between 1986 and 2019; Wießmann on the transition from unarmed to armed resistance; and Charney on the Arakan Army in the context of a divided Myanmar.

As ever, see our Recent Publications page for all of the citations and for past weeks, and if anyone wants a PDF but is excluded by pay wall, please email us and we will help if we can.

Opportunity: Myanmar-Australia Visiting Fellowship Program 2024

Background

The Myanmar Research Network at University of Melbourne in collaboration with the Myanmar Research Centre at Australian National University (ANU) with the generous support from the International Development Research Centre, Canada, invite expressions of interest for a Myanmar scholar/researcher for a fully funded 4-week fellowship in Australia. We are offering two fellowship opportunities in 2024, one in the first half of the year and the other in the second.

The fellowship includes two weeks at University of Melbourne and two weeks at the ANU in Canberra. The goal of the fellowship program is to build deeper connections between University of Melbourne/ANU and Myanmar academics and researchers in the region and catalyze new high quality collaborative research.

The fellowship offers

Fully funded accommodation and travel from anywhere in the Asia-Pacific, and within Australia, visa cost reimbursement, and a living allowance for food and essentialsFacilities to do research at both universities with a view to contributing to work on an academic publication by the fellow, and possible collaborative work on later publicationsOne-year remote access to library facilities
Fellows are expected to

Give one or more seminars or public lectures in Melbourne and CanberraMake one or more contributions, in Burmese or English, to working papers or blogs at either or both universitiesMeet with researchers to discuss and develop potential new partnerships, and with researchers and policymakers off campus as appropriate, such as NGOs and Australian Government

In 2024 we seek fellows with expertise in

Humanitarian aidHuman securityPublic health policy
Applicants should have research or work experience or both, related to Myanmar, on one or more of these themes. We especially encourage applicants who have been doing research in these areas in the post-2021 context.

Eligibility

To apply you must

Be a researcher or academic of Myanmar nationality based in the Asia-Pacific (this includes those who are active in research but may not have formal institutional affiliation)Have a postgraduate research qualification (e.g., Masters’ degree with research thesis component, or a coursework Masters’ degree with other experience comparable to a research thesis). Applicants could also have completed a PhD or be a current PhD candidate.Demonstrate research interests and experience in one or more of the above identified thematic areas. Expressions of interest in other fields or areas such as medicine, law, agriculture etc will not be considered for this round.Have high-level spoken and written English (indicate examinations and qualifications in curriculum vitae).Hold a current passport that can be used to obtain an Australia visa, and be able to travel to Australia in 2024.
Members of minority groups are encouraged to apply.

Shortlisted applicants will be interviewed.

Expression of interest can be made through this form.  

Any questions can be directed to Tamas Wells at University of Melbourne t.wells@unimelb.edu.au

CLOSING DATE: Thursday 29 February 2024

Event: Tay Zar Myo Win, Skidmore, Ware, and Laoutides on Myanmar’s crises

After the Coup: Myanmar’s Political and Humanitarian Crises

Date: February 26th, 2024 (Monday)

Time: 06:00 – 07:00 PM AEST Time (13:30-14:30 Myanmar/Yangon Time)

Join Zoom Meeting: please click here

Meeting ID: 836 7649 6162; Passcode: 235119

sponsored by the Australian Myanmar Institute

Monique Skidmore is an honorary professor at Deakin University’s Alfred Deakin Institute. She is an award- and grant-winning Burmese political and medical anthropologist and an expert media commentator. She has published seven books on Myanmar, including Karaoke Fascism: Burma and the Politics of Fear (2004). She convened the Myanmar/Burma Update conference at The Australian National University for eight years, and is co-editor of After the Coup: Myanmar’s Political & Humanitarian Crises (ANU Press, 2023).

Anthony Ware is an associate professor of humanitarianism and development at Deakin University and a former director of the Australia Myanmar Institute (2013-2017). His research, primarily in Myanmar, focuses on humanitarian and development approaches in conflict-affected situations. He has a particular interest in conflict sensitivity, ‘do no harm’, everyday peace, peacebuilding, and countering violent and hateful extremism. He has published five books, three of which are on Myanmar, including lead author of Myanmar’s ‘Rohingya’ Conflict (2018) and is co-editor of After the Coup: Myanmar’s Political & Humanitarian Crises (ANU Press, 2023)

Costas Laoutides is an associate professor of international relations at Deakin University, Australia. His area of expertise is ethno-political and separatist conflict, and its resolution. He is lead research on a project 2019-23 entitled Enhancing the work of local peace entrepreneurs after ethnic cleansing, which explores the work of actors strengthening peace formation between Rohingya and Rakhine inside Myanmar. He is the co‑author of Myanmar’s ‘Rohingya’ Conflict (Hurst/Oxford University Press, 2018, with Anthony Ware) and the sole author of Self-Determination and Collective Responsibility in Secessionist Struggle (Routledge).

Tay Zar Myo Win is a PhD candidate at Deakin University, and former lecturer at the Faculty of Political Science, Ubon Ratchathani University. His current and recent research projects explore the conflict in Rakhine State, rights of the Rohingya people, the Civil Disobedience Movement, and the process of radicalisation to extremist Buddhist nationalism. Prior to academia, Tay Zar has worked in development practice, on civic education, democracy and electoral support, and worked closely with the Union Election Commission in Myanmar as a member of a technical support team to assist national and local elections in Myanmar

Recent Pubs, 19 Feb 2024

This week’s New Pubs features Aung and Campbell on Myanmar’s radical tradition within a changing imperial world order; Tun Myint on the necessity of a polycentric federal democracy; and Green’s edited book on the Burma to Myanmar exhibit at the British Museum.

As ever, see our Recent Publications page for all of the citations and for past weeks, and if anyone wants a PDF but is excluded by pay wall, please email us and we will help if we can.

Call for Participation: 2024 Myanmar Emerging Scholars and Young Leaders Workshop

The University of British Columbia’s (UBC) Myanmar Initiative is delighted to invite applications for the 2024 Myanmar Emerging Scholars and Young Leaders Workshop. It is set to take place at UBC’s campus in Vancouver, Canada, from May 15th to 17th, 2024. This workshop is designed to empower emerging scholars and young leaders from Myanmar, of Myanmar origin, or working on Myanmar. Participants will have the opportunity to strengthen their network, enhance their contributions to Myanmar’s democratic development, and engage in meaningful collaboration and professional activities. This workshop is made possible through the generous support from the International Development Research Centre’s (IDRC) Knowledge for Democracy Myanmar (K4DM) initiative.

Workshop Highlights:

  • Networking opportunities with a diverse group of Myanmar scholars and researchers.
  • Skills training tailored to foster professional growth.
  • A platform to present research and gain valuable feedback from peers and experts.
  • Financial support for travel and accommodation for workshop attendees.

Application Deadline:

Please submit your applications by February 28, 2024. The review of applications will begin on March 1, 2024.

Eligibility Criteria:

  • Geared primarily to individuals currently enrolled in MA or PhD programs, with a preference for students at Canadian universities, though postdoctoral fellows and research affiliates are also encouraged to apply.
  • A strong focus on research related to Myanmar, particularly projects aligned with the priorities of Global Affairs Canada and IDRC, including gender, vulnerable minorities, and the Rohingya community.
  • We welcome applicants from all academic disciplines, with a particular interest in those from the social sciences and humanities.
  • We highly encourage applications from women and members of vulnerable minorities.

Application Process:

To apply for the workshop, please fill out the online application form available https://forms.gle/tdhW4z44hCxaC9UV9. Ensure your application includes a brief description of your research project and how you believe the workshop will benefit your work and professional development.

CFP: ICBMS 4th annual conf (2-4 Aug) CFP coming soon

Save the date; August 2-4, 2024! The ICBMS – International Conference on Burma/Myanmar Studies committee invites abstract submissions for ICBMS 4! This round of ICBMS will be hosted at Chiang Mai University on 2 – 4 August 2024 under the title “Assemblages of the Future: Rethinking Communities after the State.”

Interested participants should submit an abstract of not more than 300 words along with keywords. Panel proposals should be not more than 500 words. Panel descriptions should contain a 300-word abstract for each presenter. The website for abstract submission, online registration and fee information will be available online soon at https://burmaconference.com Currently, further information is available via email; please contact the ICBMS4 Secretariat at icbms.cmu[at]gmail.com. Read full detailed conference themes and conference description through the link below.

https://cmu.to/ApplyICBMS4

Recent Pubs, 12 Feb 2024

This week’s New Pubs features Sadan on Kachin communities in Myanmar; Mohapatra on human security issues in Myanmar; and UNSW Centre for Ideas’ interview with Sean Turnell on his imprisonment.

As ever, see our Recent Publications page for all of the citations and for past weeks, and if anyone wants a PDF but is excluded by pay wall, please email us and we will help if we can.

source: Frontier Myanmar

Recent Pubs, 5 Feb 2024

This week’s New Pubs features Aung on Myanmar’s revolutionary present; Saha on peasant insurgency in colonial Myanmar; and Insight Myanmar with a panel podcast “A Taste of Resilience” on Burmese food in a time of revolution.

As ever, see our Recent Publications page for all of the citations and for past weeks, and if anyone wants a PDF but is excluded by pay wall, please email us and we will help if we can.

Photo by Chulletin