The Rohingya Crisis: Its Geopolitical Context and Security Ramifications

The Rohingya crisis cannot be properly comprehended without a thorough understanding of the perennial military rule and associated power structures present in Myanmar and the way these structures led to the massive clearing operation against Rohingya civilians in 2017 in Rakhine State. An in-depth analysis of these structures and their historical bases is offered by way of providing a contextual understanding of the current geopolitical situation in Southeast Asia. Though the region’s political sphere includes such regional powers as China and India, as well as relational maneuvering between Myanmar and Bangladesh, the scope of the crisis is such that it has substantial implications for all of these parties. The sources of these implications are discussed, along with their various forms, before a brief sketch of possible futures and hoped-for solutions.