
Contents
Cite
Extract
This book examines modern conjunctures of Buddhism and politics in Myanmar from a vantage point at the intersection of anthropology and Buddhist studies. I hope this study contributes to our understanding of the discourse about religion in colonial and postcolonial contexts. My inquiry into modern Burmese Buddhist practices and communities has revealed recurrent themes, such as colonialism, nationalism, education, and resistance to the political center. After tracing the Burmese discourse about these themes and their iterations in local, regional, national, and global contexts, I conclude that postcoloniality in Myanmar remains an aspiration yet to be achieved. Such a vision for the future requires civil institutions that allow a public discourse about power that can transcend the current tensions between Buddhism and the modern state.
These themes emerge and are submerged at significant conjunctures in the modern history of this nation. My narrative begins with a focus on the negotiation of precolonial Buddhist hegemonies and underscores the role of Buddhist institutions in public policy. I then trace the emergence of modern Buddhist discourse in colonial communities in light of the introduction of new and secular venues to power. They include the disruption of traditional paradigms of governance; the emergence of modern concerns like nationalism, education, and the power of the secular state; Buddhist resistance in the public place; and the impact of global patterns of consumption on Buddhist communities. The modern discourse about these themes at particular conjunctures continues to draw Buddhist communities into political arenas, either to legitimate political power or to resist it on moral grounds. In Burma, the conjunctures of Buddhist resistance to the hegemonic structures of the modern state have endured well beyond the colonial period.
Sign in
Personal account
- Sign in with email/username & password
- Get email alerts
- Save searches
- Purchase content
- Activate your purchase/trial code
- Add your ORCID iD
Purchase
Our books are available by subscription or purchase to libraries and institutions.
Purchasing informationMonth: | Total Views: |
---|---|
May 2023 | 3 |
August 2024 | 1 |
Get help with access
Institutional access
Access to content on Oxford Academic is often provided through institutional subscriptions and purchases. If you are a member of an institution with an active account, you may be able to access content in one of the following ways:
IP based access
Typically, access is provided across an institutional network to a range of IP addresses. This authentication occurs automatically, and it is not possible to sign out of an IP authenticated account.
Sign in through your institution
Choose this option to get remote access when outside your institution. Shibboleth/Open Athens technology is used to provide single sign-on between your institution’s website and Oxford Academic.
If your institution is not listed or you cannot sign in to your institution’s website, please contact your librarian or administrator.
Sign in with a library card
Enter your library card number to sign in. If you cannot sign in, please contact your librarian.
Society Members
Society member access to a journal is achieved in one of the following ways:
Sign in through society site
Many societies offer single sign-on between the society website and Oxford Academic. If you see ‘Sign in through society site’ in the sign in pane within a journal:
If you do not have a society account or have forgotten your username or password, please contact your society.
Sign in using a personal account
Some societies use Oxford Academic personal accounts to provide access to their members. See below.
Personal account
A personal account can be used to get email alerts, save searches, purchase content, and activate subscriptions.
Some societies use Oxford Academic personal accounts to provide access to their members.
Viewing your signed in accounts
Click the account icon in the top right to:
Signed in but can't access content
Oxford Academic is home to a wide variety of products. The institutional subscription may not cover the content that you are trying to access. If you believe you should have access to that content, please contact your librarian.
Institutional account management
For librarians and administrators, your personal account also provides access to institutional account management. Here you will find options to view and activate subscriptions, manage institutional settings and access options, access usage statistics, and more.