The Socio-Political Systems of Highland Burma and the Art of Governance

The Socio-Political Systems of Highland Burma and the Art of Governance

von Tony Waters

This book is a sociological critique of colonialism and its successors as applied to Highland Burma. This is a subject which has long-attracted outsiders interested in “developing” the highlands, and integrating them into the capitalist world system. Among those who have tried (and failed) to “govern”, in the modern sense, are British colonial powers beginning in the nineteenth century, Japanese militarists, Burmese nationalists and militarists, American CIA agents, Chinese engineers, and United Nations bureaucrats. All have failed to reach their goals for “development.” The result is a series of failed political, infrastructure, and economic experiments.

The book distinguishes itself from others by starting with an assumption that the development of Myanmar’s highlands is a result of flawed policies by outsiders, rather than the lack of development and governance by the highlanders themselves. Despite the success of such policies in many other countries of Europe, Asia, and elsewhere, Highland Burma remains a place that is ungovernable by international standards. The distinctive questions are two-fold. First, why have the outsiders so persistently promoted policies which seemingly inevitably failed? And second, what does the response of highlanders themselves tell about what James C. Scott calls “The Art of not Being Governed?” Such questions are largely left out of the reams of consultancy reports produced about Myanmar development, politics, governance, and economy during the last 30 years.

This book is a sociological critique of colonialism and its successors as applied to Highland Burma. This is a subject which has long-attracted outsiders interested in “developing” the highlands, and integrating them into the capitalist world system. Among those who have tried (and failed) to “govern”, in the modern sense, are British colonial powers beginning in the nineteenth century, Japanese militarists, Burmese nationalists and militarists, American CIA agents, Chinese engineers, and United Nations bureaucrats. All have failed to reach their goals for “development.” The result is a series of failed political, infrastructure, and economic experiments.

The book distinguishes itself from others by starting with an assumption that the development of Myanmar’s highlands is a result of flawed policies by outsiders, rather than the lack of development and governance by the highlanders themselves. Despite the success of such policies in many other countries of Europe, Asia, and elsewhere, Highland Burma remains a place that is ungovernable by international standards. The distinctive questions are two-fold. First, why have the outsiders so persistently promoted policies which seemingly inevitably failed? And second, what does the response of highlanders themselves tell about what James C. Scott calls “The Art of not Being Governed?” Such questions are largely left out of the reams of consultancy reports produced about Myanmar development, politics, governance, and economy during the last 30 years.

Tony Waters is a Professor of Sociology. He worked at California State University, Chico, USA (1996-2021), Payap University, Chiangmai, Thailand (2016-2022), and is currently a Visiting Professor at Leuphana University, Germany, and Lecturer in the Department of Southeast Asian Studies, Hamburg University. He is the author of books and articles dealing with development issues, crime, bureaucracy, and social theory. He has written about these subjects with respect to Southeast Asia, East Africa, California, and elsewhere. His PhD in Sociology is from the University of California, Davis (1995). He also has an MS in Biological Sciences from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (1986). Prior to becoming an academic he was a Peace Corps Volunteer and NGO manager in Thailand and Tanzania. He speaks English, German, Thai, and Swahili.

“Building on the foundational insights of James C. Scott, Tony Waters offers a sharp critique of colonialism and its enduring legacies in highland–lowland relations. With historical depth and ethnographic clarity, this book compellingly shows how highland communities in Burma navigate authority, resist lowland centric state power, and imagine local governance—a vital contribution to the study of governance, resistance, and socio political imaginaries in Highland Southeast Asia.” (Dr. David Thang Moe, Yale University)

“This book highlights not just the country’s diversity, but also a complexed socio-political setting on the day-to-day lives of people. It is a must-read book for every student and scholar interested in Burmese studies.” (Dr. Hayso Thako, Institute of Higher Education for the Karen Education and Culture Department (KECD))

“This book is an analysis of governance in Highland Burma through leadership, consciousness, and morality by revisiting Max Weber’s Definitions of traditional authority. The author examines a connective habitus of “Not Being Governed“ in pseudo-feudal worlds of the nineteenth century until the mid-twentieth century, and argues that traditional authority can operate complex institutions like armies, opium purchasing, heroin processing labs, and methamphetamine labs in Highland Burma.” (Dr. Mon Mon Myat, Payap University)

Highlights

• Presents an accessible sociological critique of why development programs do not work Relates engaging stories about the nature of highland Burma politics, past and present Extends original ideas from leading academics like Max Weber, Edmund Leach and James Scott

Über den Autor

Tony Waters is a Professor of Sociology. He worked at California State University, Chico, USA (1996-2021), Payap University, Chiangmai, Thailand (2016-2022), and is currently a Visiting Professor at Leuphana University, Germany, and Lecturer in the Department of Southeast Asian Studies, Hamburg University. He is the author of books and articles dealing with development issues, crime, bureaucracy, and social theory. He has written about these subjects with respect to Southeast Asia, East Africa, California, and elsewhere. His PhD in Sociology is from the University of California, Davis (1995). He also has an MS in Biological Sciences from California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo (1986). Prior to becoming an academic he was a Peace Corps Volunteer and NGO manager in Thailand and Tanzania. He speaks English, German, Thai, and Swahili.