The Daily

The End of Democracy in Myanmar

Feb 4, 2021

Hannah Beech, Southeast Asia bureau chief for The New York Times, provides an insightful analysis of Myanmar's turbulent political landscape following a shocking military coup. The discussion highlights the dramatic rise and fall of Aung San Suu Kyi, once a beacon of hope for democracy, now entangled in controversy over her government's handling of the Rohingya crisis. Beech explores the deep political divides and power struggles that led to a complete military takeover, leaving Myanmar's fragile democracy in shambles.

25:07

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Episode guests

Hannah Beech

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

Aung San Suu Kyi: From Hope to Dismay

9min

The Rohingya Crisis and Political Fallout

4min

The Fragile Threads of Power in Myanmar

2min

Power Struggles in Myanmar

7min

Political Turmoil and Accountability in Myanmar and the U.S.

3min

Rumors had been swirling for days before Myanmar’s military launched a coup, taking back power and ousting the civilian leader, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi.

Myanmar’s experiment with democracy, however flawed, now appears to be over.

Today, we examine the rise and fall of Aung San Suu Kyi.

Guest: Hannah Beech, The New York Times’s Southeast Asia bureau chief.

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Background reading:

The coup returns Myanmar to full military rule after a short span of quasi-democracy. Here is what we know.
Myanmar seemed to be building a peaceful transition to civilian governance. Instead, a personal struggle between military and civilian leaders brought it all down.
Aung San Suu Kyi, once considered a shimmering icon of democracy, has lost her halo.

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