Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/338245 
Authors: 
Year of Publication: 
2026
Series/Report no.: 
SWP Comment No. 9/2026
Publisher: 
Stiftung Wissenschaft und Politik (SWP), Berlin
Abstract: 
Five years after the bloody military coup and amid a civil war, elections have taken place in Myanmar. They were neither free nor fair, nor was any attempt made to keep up an appearance of even minimum democratic standards. From the outset, the main purpose of the elections was not political participation but an authoritarian-led transition from military rule to a "civilian" government. The country's new executive is intended to appear legitimate both nationally and internationally (on account of the ballot) and at the same time consolidate the military's dominance. For its part, Myanmar's military leadership claims the elections mark a "new beginning" to restore political stability in the country and break its international isolation. The reference here is, among others, to the European Union (EU) and its member states, which have imposed sanctions against Myanmar. However, they should not believe the myth of a "civilian" elected government and a "return" to constitutional order; and, accordingly, they should not seek to normalise relations with Myanmar for the time being.
Subjects: 
Myanmar
international isolation
"polycrisis"
China
EU
UN
ASEAN
Rohingya
National Unity Government (NUG)
military coup
civil war
elections
ethnic armed organisations (EAOs)
authoritarian-led transition
National League for Democracy (NLD)
Aung San Suu Kyi
Persistent Identifier of the first edition: 
Creative Commons License: 
cc-by Logo
Document Type: 
Research Report

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