Polarization and Paradox: Myanmar Democratization as a Manifestation of the Exclusionary Function within Globalization

The political debate surrounding democratization in Myanmar can be likened to the classic paradox of, ¡°What happens when an irresistible force meets an immovable object?¡± Globalization in its present manifestation is often described as unstoppable. Likewise, the Myanmar regime continues to be (wrongly) defined as obstinate. Such polarization has encased the public debate over democratization in Myanmar, and has resulted in inertia and exclusion. Even though globalization has facilitated the global social movement for democratization in Myanmar, and while the impact of this on Western governments¡¯ policies may be evidence of consolidated democracy, the majority of the citizens of Myanmar have been excluded from the benefits of globalization. Paradoxically, because the debate has been framed by the architects of globalization, the citizens of Myanmar have been deprived of the right to development by globalization, and importantly, this is despite the overwhelming theoretical, historical and empirical evidence that postulates economic growth and prosperity as key preconditions for democratic transition/ consolidation. While it is no doubt true that, at one pole, the government of Myanmar perpetuates and exploits this exclusion, it equally true that, at the other pole, the same exclusion is perpetuated and exploited. This is the exclusionary function of globalization.