The Search for Peace in Myanmar

The habitus of Burmanization is deep within Burmese society. Only when the consequences of over sixty years of cultural conditioning are addressed, will the basis for peace be established. This will require the de-Burmanization, de-Militarization, and de-Centralization of Burmese society so that the multi-ethnic nature of Myanmar can be accommodated in a fashion that reflects minority and majority rights. To do this peace narratives need to be constructed which are new and different than those of the past. The education system must be transformative, cultivate diverse values, and ultimately leverage the positive values of Buddhism in developing a peaceful and prosperous secular nation.