• Date: April 14th, Thursday, 2022 15:00 – 16:30
• Online via Zoom

Speaker: Kihong Mun (Senior Researcher, Institute for Global and Area Studies, PKNU)

This lecture focuses on the mass mobilization of military rule in Myanmar for the purpose of securing a popular basis for support. Based on the published article, “Mass mobilization under military rule in Myanmar”, this lecture will examine Tatmadaw’s process of forming pro-government organizations and mobilization to see the purpose and aspects of an authoritative government’s mass mobilization and how such organizational activities have influenced the reinforcement of power for that government. The lecture especially focuses on Union Solidarity and Development Association (USDA) organized during Myanmar’s military rule for mass mobilization after 1988. The military regime achieved its mobilization capacity by establishing USDA in 1993. The military regime was in need of such a capacity for the transition to disciplined-flourishing democracy. Indeed, it held several pro-government mass rallies across the country under the theme of supporting the regime’s policies, such as convening the National Convention for writing a new constitution, anti-subversion law, and seven steps roadmap to democracy. Later, the members of the association joined as representatives in the constitution-writing process. Furthermore, the organization transformed itself from a patron organization into a political party, the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP), before the 2010 general election. The mass mobilization by the military regime has provided a safe environment in the post-authoritarian society.