Problems of democratic transitions in multi-ethnic states

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Saw Myat Sandy’s study provides a theoretical and empirical analysis of political transitions in former Yugoslavia and contemporary Myanmar, covering the period from the late 1980s to the present. The author explores the democratic transitions in both regions, highlighting how initial promise was undermined by challenges that threatened to reverse gains in democratization. Sandy argues that the transitions in both states have become prolonged processes due to their multi-ethnic societies. In former Yugoslavia, democratization led to disintegration, while Myanmar faces ongoing political instability and social fragmentation, though it does not appear to be heading toward a conventional Balkan scenario. The dissertation examines whether Myanmar's political transition will mirror Yugoslavia's fate, employing a theoretical framework that emphasizes ethnicity and other political factors in the democratization process. The study draws on democratic transition and consolidation theories proposed by Juan J. Linz, Alfred Stepan, and Samuel Huntington. Unlike many quantitative studies, this qualitative case study reveals relevant dimensions of the transitions. The theoretical perspectives presented are significant and interrelated, contributing to the broader theoretical debate and advocating for an expanded understanding of the relationship between ethnicity and political transitions. It proposes a heuristic method to integrate ethnic d