Revolution as Development: The Karen Self-Determination Struggle Against Ethnocracy

by Jack C. Fong

The Karen Revolution for self-determination has the distinction of being one of the world's longest-running struggles for freedom, having begun in 1949 and continuing to this very moment. This sociological work makes visible how ethnopolitical, petropolitical, geopolitical, and ecosystemic issues affect the political economy of a people experiencing ethnic cleansing. From the inception of its self-determination struggle in 1949, readers will be taken on a historical journey with the Karen, finally "arriving" in the 21st century. Along the way, the author exposes readers to the anatomy of how Karen revolutionary dynamics attempt to shield the Karen people against internal colonization committed by the various military regimes of Burma, and how these complex dynamics engaged by Karen revolutionaries-in a novel reformulation and reading that transcends oversimplified economisitic indicators of progress-constitute development. A study of revolution that moves beyond the simplicity of a clashing dualism exemplified by Aung San Suu Kyi pitted against the military regime, this text is for readers desiring to examine how other significant players such as the Karen, a proud people living in systemic crisis, construct nation and aspire toward democracy in the labyrinthine ethnopolitical terrain of Burma.

376 pages, Paperback

First published April 2, 2008

Reviews

[Mali Raina · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you're into epic accounts of human struggle, this is a great book about one of the key ethnic nationalities of Myanmar. Many areas are a bit dry and technical as the author explains key concept and theories for readers before taking them into the Karen struggle for autonomy as a form of development. The condensed history of development tied to political events that unfolded for the Karen was well done. There is a lot of good field data too. My prof assigned the work for an international relations course and noted how timely the book is given that Myanmar and its persecution of the Rohingya is on the news so frequently now. In many ways the author predicted the long lasting oppression against Myanmar's ethnic nations that continues today. Reading this book takes political committment. It's definitely NOT A RELAXING read and the learning curve of development concepts is steep.

[Trent · Rating 5 out of 5]

A nice work that gives me a better impression of Myanmar. As a monograph assigned by my class to read, I appreciate how I can see Aung San Suu Kyi's current situation and her rise to power as well as the ethnopolitics of the country that have not benefited the Karen. The author is not too sentimental, thank goodness, since works that deal with the human condition in conflict usually are. He's not cold either: He gives the facts, provides a strong theoretical framework, and provides a useful timeline of the Karen and Burma's history, all with meticulous detail and a dose of humanity. And then the whopper: Fong provides a great theory on separatism, gives us a new look at different kinds of nationalism, and reminds us how there are such things as failed states. Only when you finish this work do you realize its radical brilliance. If you're monograph junkies this is a great and timely work!