Nominal Sovereignty: How Realpolitik and Regime Survival Are Eroding Myanmar’s Statehood
The foundational promise of modern Myanmar was built on a simple, immutable truth: sovereignty resides only in the people. Enshrined in the 1947 Panglong spirit and the dawn of independence in 1948, this principle dictates that the raw power of a military junta or mere territorial ownership does not measure true statehood. Instead, it is sustained by the people’s right to choose their leaders freely, participate in political life, and democratically delegate authority.
Today, that foundation is fracturing. Buffeted by intense domestic resistance and international condemnation following the 2021 military coup and subsequent rigged elections, junta leader Min Aung Hlaing has launched a diplomatic charm offensive. His high-profile visits to powerful neighbours like China and India are not signs of state strength, but rather a calculated effort to garner international recognition and political legitimacy he lacks at home.