Asia Foundation Analyzes Ethnic Conflicts in Myanmar

On September 9, 2014 The Asia Foundation’s Washington office hosted a forum on the findings of its recently released study, Ethnic Conflict and Social Services in Myanmar’s Contested Regions. The author of the report, Mr. Kim Jolliffe, presented key findings on the influence aid for social services on ethnic conflicts and peacebuilding in Myanmar’s contested regions.

The study explores the role of foreign aid to social services, including education and healthcare, in relation to the current peace process; analyzes the significance of collaboration between the state and ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) to peacebuilding; and provides broad guidance on how international aid agencies can direct social service spending to support peace and avoid further exacerbating conflicts.

Mr. Jolliffe described patron-client relations between Burmese-led leadership and non-Burmese populations to analyze conflict dynamics and explained that the core drivers of conflict are related to armed actors’ roles in governance. The cases of Mon National Education (MNE) and Karen Healthcare were used to emphasize the importance of coordination efforts among the state, EAO-linked service providers, community systems, and aid actors, which could improve the quality of service provision and support the institutional evolution. Mr. Jolliffe provided guidance to aid actors on strengthening existing capacities for cooperation to domestic service providers and on enhancing relations between state and EAO-linked service providers. Important emerging issues to pay attention to include the expanding of state services to areas without administration; allowing INGOs to build schools, clinics, and other basic services in specific contested areas; and the government taking control of EAO or community schools without discussion – which may harm and challenge the confidence, trust, and the cooperation in peace process – were also explored.

• Read the full report.
• Learn more about the Foundation’s ongoing work in Myanmar to support the country’s democratic transition and development.