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Interpretive Complexity and Crisis: the History of International Aid to Myanmar

Author

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  • Anne Décobert

    (The University of Melbourne)

  • Tamas Wells

    (The University of Melbourne)

Abstract

In the last two decades, Myanmar has gone through profound political changes. Over this time, humanitarian and development interventions by Western donor agencies have been guided by shifting and simplified narratives of the political context. During periods of military authoritarianism, quasi-democratic government and the recent period of rule by the National League for Democracy, donors have also faced moments of ‘interpretive crisis’, where predominant assumptions about political figures or program strategies no longer align with outcomes. Over time, and through their unstable and shifting interpretations, Western donor agencies have often failed to work coherently and accountably with Myanmar state or non-state actors. Decisions about how, and to whom, aid is channelled have amounted to decisions about who are legitimate socio-political actors and agents of change. Aid has therefore influenced power balances in Myanmar and has had significant unintended consequences on development and political dynamics on the ground.

Suggested Citation

  • Anne Décobert & Tamas Wells, 2020. "Interpretive Complexity and Crisis: the History of International Aid to Myanmar," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 32(2), pages 294-315, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:pal:eurjdr:v:32:y:2020:i:2:d:10.1057_s41287-019-00238-y
    DOI: 10.1057/s41287-019-00238-y
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Stefaan Marysse & An Ansoms & Danny Cassimon, 2007. "The Aid 'Darlings' and 'Orphans' of the Great Lakes Region in Africa," The European Journal of Development Research, Taylor and Francis Journals, vol. 19(3), pages 433-458.
    2. Thomas J. Kaplan, 1986. "The narrative structure of policy analysis," Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 5(4), pages 761-778.
    3. Susan Banki, 2009. "Contested Regimes, Aid Flows, and Refugee Flows: The Case of Burma," Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs, Institute of Asian Studies, GIGA German Institute of Global and Area Studies, Hamburg, vol. 28(2), pages 47-73.
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    Cited by:

    1. Olayinka Akanle & Olamide S. Shittu, 2022. "The Unending Development Question of Nigeria," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 34(1), pages 321-342, February.
    2. Elin Bjarnegård, 2020. "Introduction: Development Challenges in Myanmar: Political Development and Politics of Development Intertwined," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 32(2), pages 255-273, April.

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