Interrogating Ethnic Identities and the Representation of Minor Ethnic Groups with Reference to the Nagas in Myanmar’s Politics

By : Sachoiba Inkah

Page No: 225-241

Abstract
Myanmar is among the world’s most ethnically diverse nations, characterised by several ethnic armed organisations seeking legitimate recognition and autonomy. Despite over seventy years of independence, the attempt to achieve national unification remains an incomplete project. Myanmar continues to contend with the enduring legacies of colonial rule, aggravated by a rigid political framework characterised by military hegemony and the significant influence of major ethnic groups, notably the Bamar, as well as pronounced religious and communal influences. Ethnic minorities are significantly underrepresented at both national and state levels, where they vie for scarce state resources, leading to various conflicts and stalling progress and development. The paper argues that the granting of Self-Administered Zones for ethnic groups particularly Nagas has not resulted in augmenting the socio-economic life of the people as these Zones function under the regional government with active intrusion in the working of the local administration by the representatives of the major ethnic groups and the military.

Author
Sachoiba Inkah : Assistant Professor, Department of Political Science, Himalayan University, Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh.
 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.32381/SEAR.2025.50.12