Nationalism defeated at the ballot box
Why did self-proclaimed nationalist parties fare so badly in the election?
Though the absence of opinion polls and comparable electoral data made it difficult in advance to gauge the extent of support for any party, nationalist candidates appeared to be well-organised and amply funded. The hardline nationalist Buddhist Committee for the Protection of Nationalism and Religion, known by its Myanmar acronym Ma Ba Tha, seemed to be enjoying nationwide support, whipping up crowds tens of thousands strong in its tour of the country during campaign season.
