Local Governance in Non-Bamar Ethnic Areas in Myanmar: A Comparative Study of Local Governance between the National League of Democracy Government (2016-2020) and Post-Coup State Administration Council Regime

Minn Myoh Minn Oo
Research Fellow,
Chinbridge Institute, Myanmar

2025

Full-Length Peer-Reviewed Article

Local governance in Myanmar has undergone various reforms under successive administrations, fulfilling local needs to a certain extent while experiencing persistent challenges. This study analyzes the effectiveness of local governance mechanisms in non-Bamar ethnic areas in Myanmar in two governance periods of the National League for Democracy (NLD) government (2016-2020) and the post-coup State Administration Council (SAC) period (post-2021). Through decentralization and rebel governance theories, the study employs qualitative approaches, drawing semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with ethnic leaders and organizations in the Arakan and Mon states. The study reveals that weak state-led governance following the 2021 coup led to increasing reliance on ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) for local services. Findings suggest the potential and significance of EAO-led governance in shaping decentralized governance models for non-Bamar ethnic areas in the post-conflict period.

Ethnic armed organizations, local governance, National League of Democracy, non-Bamar,State Administration Council 

Minn Oo, Myoh Minn. 2025.  “Local Governance in Non-Bamar Ethnic Areas in Myanmar: A Comparative Study of Local Governance between the National League of Democracy Government (2016-2020) and Post-Coup State Administration Council Regime.” Philippine Journal of Public Policy: Interdisciplinary Development Perspectives 2025: 1-30.