Living Silence: Burma Under Military Rule (Politics in Contemporary Asia) - Hardcover

'Particularly valuable for its study of the psychological effects of military rule on the people of Burma. By exploring the impact of military rule on the lives of ordinary people against a broad historical and social backdrop, Christina Fink makes an important contribution towards an understanding of the root causes of the problems and choices that the people of Burma are facing today.' Aung San Suu Kyi 'A meticulous study of the surreal horror imposed upon the people of Burma by its illegitimate rulers. Read this book and never forget them.' John Pilger 'The Burmese students have found their Boswell. Christina Fink has carefully recorded their statements and thoughts. Now, no one can dismiss the tragedy of Burma as the fiction of outsiders. These are the people who have and continue to live with it.' Josef Silverstein, Rutgers University

Burma remains the odd man out in Southeast Asia. While other countries have democratized and prospered, Burma is governed by a repressive military dictatorship, its economy has collapsed, and it is the second largest producer of heroin in the world. In this exceptionally readable yet scholarly account of Burma today, Christina Fink gives a moving and insightful picture of what life under military rule is like. Through the extensive interviews conducted inside and outside the country, we begin to understand the accommodations that people feel compelled to make in order to carry on with daily life, including the innovative forms of resistance that some courageous Burmese have engaged in. Her portrait of Burmese society takes in a wide diversity of people, including students who have played such a prominent part in the opposition, ordinary soldiers unhappy with what the armed forces are doing to their country, religious figures, the artistic community, and even political prisoners. The author also explores the strategies and techniques which the military regime has so skillfully deployed in order to maintain itself in power in defiance of the popular will. She presents the political history of the country, and concludes her book by examining the internationalization of Burma's politics by both the regime and the democratic opposition as they seek allies and support abroad.