Myanmar's Internal Conflict and Democratic Challenges
International Relations
- PYQs8
- Articles1
Background
Understanding regional stability, India's neighborhood policy (Act East), challenges to democracy globally, humanitarian crises, and the role of international law and organizations.
Myanmar has been grappling with a protracted internal conflict, exacerbated by a military coup in 2021 that overthrew the democratically elected government. This has led to a widespread pro-democracy movement, a civil war involving ethnic armed organizations and the National Unity Government (NUG), and significant humanitarian challenges.
Facts & tables
- 2021 Military Coup
- Overthrew the National League for Democracy (NLD) government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, plunging the country into civil war.
- Civil War Dynamics
- Ongoing conflict between the military junta, People's Defence Forces (PDFs) of the National Unity Government (NUG), and various ethnic armed organizations.
- Pro-Democracy Movement
- Symbolized by Aung San Suu Kyi, advocating for a federal democratic union against military rule.
- Humanitarian Crisis
- Resulted in over a lakh lives lost, widespread displacement, and allegations of genocide (e.g., Rohingya crisis).
| Type | Reference |
|---|---|
| Conceptual area | Federal Structure & Centre-State Relations |
| Conceptual area | Constitutional Amendments & Structure |
| Conceptual area | Welfare Schemes & Social Policies |
| Body | Role |
|---|---|
| ASEAN | Attempts mediation and regional diplomacy |
| International Court of Justice | Addressed genocide charges against myanmar |
| National Unity Government (NUG) | Government-in-exile leading resistance |
Prelims angle
Prelims angle: Statement-based questions
Prelims angle: Factual recall
- 2021 coup by Min Aung Hlaing, overthrowing NLD government.
- Emergence of NUG and People's Defence Forces as resistance.
- Involvement of various ethnic armed organizations in the civil war.
- International responses from China, India, and ASEAN.
- Humanitarian crisis and allegations of genocide (Rohingya).
| Year | Framing tags |
|---|---|
| 2024 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2024 | Multi-statement analysis, Cause and effect relationships |
| 2023 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2022 | Statement-based questions, Factual recall |
| 2022 | Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall |
| 2018 | Factual recall, Terminology-based question |
| 2016 | Factual recall, Terminology-based question |
| 2015 | Factual recall, Terminology-based question |
Timeline
-
Federal Structure & Centre-State Relations
Conceptual area
-
Constitutional Amendments & Structure
Conceptual area
-
Welfare Schemes & Social Policies
Conceptual area
-
Prelims 2015
Factual recall, Terminology-based question
-
Prelims 2016
Factual recall, Terminology-based question
-
Prelims 2018
Factual recall, Terminology-based question
-
Prelims 2022
Statement-based questions, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2022
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2023
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2024
Multi-statement analysis, Factual recall
-
Prelims 2024
Multi-statement analysis, Cause and effect relationships
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Aung San Suu Kyi | A symbol of resistance
Myanmar's post-2021 coup landscape is marked by a military junta, a resilient pro-democracy movement, and a complex civil war involving ethnic groups, impacting regional stability and human rights.
See also
No related topics linked yet.
Past papers
2015–2024 · 7 questions
In the news
Aung San Suu Kyi | A symbol of resistance
Myanmar's post-2021 coup landscape is marked by a military junta, a resilient pro-democracy movement, and a complex civil war involving ethnic groups, impacting regional stability and human rights.
Try these PYQs
Consider the following statements:
1. Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in north -western Kenya.
2. Some people who fled from South Sudan civil war live in Bidibidi.
3. Some people who fled from civil war in Somalia live in Dadaab refugee complex in Kenya.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Statement 1 is Incorrect: Bidibidi is a large refugee settlement in northwestern Uganda, not Kenya. Statement 2 is Correct: People fleeing the civil war in South Sudan have been hosted in the Bidibidi settlement. Statement 3 is Correct: The Dadaab refugee complex is located in Kenya and houses refugees, including those who fled the civil war in Somalia. Therefore, the correct statements are 2 and 3 only.
Consider the following pairs :
Country | Reason for being in the news|
|- | -|
|1. Argentina | Worst economic crisis|
|2. Sudan | War between the country's regular army and paramilitary forces|
|3. Turkey | Rescinded its membership of NATO|
How many of the pairs given above are correctly matched?
* Argentina - Worst economic crisis: Correct. Argentina has been facing a severe economic crisis for a while, marked by high inflation, debt, and poverty. * Sudan - War between the country's regular army and paramilitary forces: Correct. Sudan has been engulfed in a violent conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces. * Turkey - Rescinded its membership of NATO: Incorrect. Turkey has not rescinded its membership of NATO. While there have been tensions between Turkey and other NATO members, it remains a member. _Therefore, only two out of the three pairs are correctly matched._
Consider the following statements :
Statement-I : There is instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region.
Statement-II: There have been military takeovers/coups d'état in several countries of the Sahel region in the recent past.
Which one of the following is correct in respect of the above statements?
* Statement-I: There is instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region. This statement is correct as the Sahel region has been experiencing significant instability and security challenges, including terrorism, armed conflict, and humanitarian crises. * Statement-II: There have been military takeovers/coups d'état in several countries of the Sahel region in the recent past. This statement is also correct. Several countries in the Sahel region, such as Mali, Burkina Faso, and Chad, have experienced military coups in recent years. * Statement-II explains Statement-I because the military takeovers and coups contribute to the instability and worsening security situation in the Sahel region. The political instability resulting from these coups disrupts governance, exacerbates conflict, and undermines efforts to address security and development challenges in the region.
Consider the following pairs:
Country - Important reason for being in the news recently
1. Chad – Setting up of permanent military base by China.
2. Guinea – Suspension of Constitution and Government by military
3. Lebanon – Severe and prolonged economic depression
4. Tunisia – Suspension of Parliament by President
How many pairs given above are correctly matched?
Pair 1 is incorrectly matched. China has not established any permanent military base in Chad. Pair 2 is correctly matched. Guinean special forces staged a coup, captured President Alpha Conde, replaced governors with the military, and dissolved the constitution and National Assembly. Pair 3 is correctly matched. Lebanon has been experiencing a severe and prolonged economic depression since 2019, driven by political instability, inadequate reforms, and systemic corruption. The economic crisis has affected approximately 74% of the population. Pair 4 is correctly matched. Tunisian President Kais Saied dissolved the suspended parliament after lawmakers held an online meeting and voted to repeal presidential decrees. He called it a failed coup attempt.
The area known as ‘Golan Heights’ sometimes appears in the news in the context of the events related to:
The correct answer is the Middle East. The Golan Heights is a hilly, 1,200 sq-km rocky plateau in south-western Syria in the Middle East region overlooking Lebanon, Syria, and the Jordan Valley. The Golan was Syrian territory until 1967 when Israel occupied it in the closing stages of the Six-Day War.
Show 3 more PYQs
The term "two-state solution" is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of -
The Two-State Solution is used in the context of the Israel-Palestine issue. It envisages an independent State of Palestine alongside the State of Israel west of the Jordan River.
‘Belt and Road Initiative’ is sometimes mentioned in the news in the context of the affairs of -
China-Led Initiative BRI is a global development strategy spearheaded by the Chinese government. It aims to create a network of trade routes connecting China with other countries in Asia, Europe, and Africa through investments in infrastructure development. Hence, option D is the correct answer.
Consider the following pairs : Area of conflict mentioned in news Country where it is located
1. Donbas : Syria
2. Kachin : Ethiopia
3. Tigray : North Yemen
How many of the above pairs are correctly matched?
* The Donbas is a historical, cultural, and economic region in eastern Ukraine. It has two heavily industrialised regions of Donetsk and Luhansk which were occupied by Russian forces last year. Hence, pair 1 is not correctly matched. * Kachin State is the northernmost state of Myanmar. In 2022, Myanmar military air * strikes reportedly killed dozens of people including civilians at a concert in Kachin State. Hence, pair 2 is not correctly matched. * Tigray is Ethiopia's northernmost region. The region is at the centre of an ongoing civil conflict involving ethno-regional militias, the federal government, and the Eritrean military that has attracted the concern of humanitarian groups and external actors since November 2020. In October 2022, the first formal African Union-led peace talks between an Ethiopian government team and Tigray forces happened in South Africa. Hence, pair 3 is not correctly matched.