Developing multiculturalism in Myanmar: Citizen perspectives from deliberative surveys

This chapter uses the results of a public deliberation and associated deliberative
surveys to explore citizens’ perspectives on national identity, religion and
education in Myanmar. We analyse differences between the Bamar and non-
Bamar ethnic nationalities (herein non-Bamar ethnic nationalities are referred to
simply as ethnic nationalities) and find significant instances of convergence
between the perspectives of members of the dominant Bamar nationality and
other minority ethnic nationalities. This is significant because the conflicts in
Myanmar are traditionally between the Bamar and the ethnic nationalities and
they generally remain polarised over issues relating to the identity of the state
and its structuring.