Obstacles to Reform in Myanmar

Lessons from the Past, for a Better Future
Myanmar experienced a decade of reforms from 2011 to 2021 under the administrations of the Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and the National League for Democracy (NLD). But policymakers in both administrations were often ill-prepared to push the economy to its potential, and they were hindered by a lack of resources and beset by obstacles at every turn. Challenges have persisted into the efforts of the current State Administration Council (SAC) military regime to administer the country after the 2021 coup.

Obstacles include bureaucratic inertia resisting reforms; lack of experience, exposure and technical knowledge; deep-rooted corruption; hasty decision-making to show strong leadership; and overconfident bureaucrats with narrow perspectives.

Past and present experiences of obstacles must transform into valuable lessons for the future. This requires acknowledging issues and obstacles, carefully analysing them to understand their origins, and implementing thoughtful reforms that address both symptoms and underlying causes.

Any future administration must possess the wisdom and determination to confront such challenges head-on, drawing upon past experiences to forge a path towards a more prosperous and hopeful future for Myanmar.

Myanmar’s current moment of significant hardship presents an opportunity to prepare for a better future and to treat that possibility as more imminent than impossible. It is thus crucial to take proactive steps now to ensure preparedness for any opportunity and potential for change when the time comes.

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