Myanmar

Articles

Myanmar’s Natural Resources: Blessing or Curse?

Published: 11 December 2013

Myanmar’s progress since the 2010 general elections has been astounding, with political transition greatly encouraging citizens and international diplomatic and investment communities. The diplomatic climate for Myanmar has changed dramatically as a result and sanctions have been eased progressively.

By David Allen and Rainer Einzenberger

Photo: In a valley near a forested hill, several round water basins with light blue liquid and white pipelines are visible.

Rare Earths: Why European Industries Are Dependent on Myanmar

Published: 29 April 2025

Commentary

Almost two-thirds of the heavy rare earths dysprosium and terbium on the global market come from Myanmar. How should Germany and Europe deal with the mining of urgently needed rare earths in the civil war-torn country of Myanmar?

By Johanna Sydow

Rare earth mining in Hpyi Di Village near Mai Ja Yang town, Kachin State, Myanmar

Fractured Authority and Resource Politics in Myanmar: New Report on Rare Earth Mining

Published: 22 April 2025

Study

The mining of rare earths is not just about international raw materials policy, as a new study from Myanmar shows. It is also about environmental justice, local governance and the future of the civil war-torn country.

By Shanan Foundation

Dossiers

Menschen protestieren in einem Gebäude vor einer holzvertäfelten Wand, auf ihren Schildern steht auf Englisch und Thai: Protect our Vote

Authoritarian elections in Southeast Asia

Published: 27 September 2023

Dossier

So-called "authoritarian elections" have become increasingly important in many countries in Southeast Asia. This dossier sheds light on this special form of retaining power, particularly in Thailand, Cambodia and Myanmar.

Publications

The Contribution of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Advancing Women’s Political Participation and Effectiveness: A Case of the Mon Women Movement in Myanmar

Published: 4 October 2017

The Contribution of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) in Advancing Women’s Political Participation and Effectiveness: Following decades of military dictatorship which denied Myanmar the benefits of an inclusive democracy, the new government continues to fall short: Women remain underrepresented. This paper focusses on the contribution of a growing CSO-led women’s movement to political participation and effectiveness, and highlights opportunities to maximize such efforts.

Chinese agricultural investors and their impacts on rural households in Myanmar

Published: 30 March 2015

After more than fifty years of socialist regime, Myanmar opened up their land market with the modifications to their Land Laws and Foreign Investment Law in 2011. Since then, large land concessions have increased dramatically.

By Miriam Esmaragda Romero Antonio