Myanmar’s Armed Forces: The Case for Engagement

Over three years since the inauguration of the civilian government, the Tatmadaw finds itself increasingly isolated politically and under scrutiny like never before from Myanmar’s burgeoning mass media and civil society. Ill-prepared, it faces key challenges in adapting to evolving democratic needs. Failure to build trust and confidence in civil-military relations will only serve to hinder the democratization and peace processes underway. A concerted engagement strategy involving all politically relevant actors is therefore needed as well as measures to assist in the reform of Myanmar’s armed forces.