A shift in Myanmar’s nationalist rhetoric offers a glimpse of what’s to come in 2020
Burmese nationalism has played a central role in many of the darker chapters of Myanmar’s recent history. The roots of the latest conflict in Rakhine State that has left hundreds dead and displaced more than 700,000 are earthed in Buddhist nationalism. Anti-Muslim protests in 2012 and 2013 were also borne from nationalist beliefs and fear of the “other”.
However, in recent months, there has been a clear shift in nationalist rhetoric. Speeches from leading nationalist figures are becoming increasingly political and contain rhetoric deliberately attacking the National League for Democracy (NLD) government.
