In her book Modern Buddhist Conjunctures in Myanmar, anthropologist Juliane Schober explores the complex and often fraught relationship between Buddhism and politics in Burma. Starting with the precolonial situation in the nineteenth century and moving up to the present day, the work shows the multivalent position of Buddhist thought and practice in Burma, serving often as a prop to those in power, even as it offers others a resource for resistance. While Schober's book appeared before the dramatic political changes that began late last year, including Aung San Suu Kyi's election to a newly formed parliament, recent events only underscore the book's valuable mapping of the long and tangled history of religious and political dynamics in Burma. The comprehensive scope of the book will make it a useful resource for Burma specialists, and those interested in the relationship between religion and politics in Southeast Asia will find it an...
Skip Nav Destination
Article navigation
