The Wire

Experts in all things Burmese from all corners of the globe are meeting in Canberra to discuss political issues facing the South East Asian nation. The hot topic at the conference? Will Myanmar be a democracy by 2015?

Myanmar is  a nation moving from decades of authoritarian regimes towards democratic government. After a turbulent past, filled with violent ethnic clashes and harsh military suppression, the country’s political system is slowly changing. But will the democratisation of Myanmar be sustained and what lessons are there for Myanmar (Burma)from democratisation theory, and from comparisons with other countries who have taken the same difficult path?