U Nu's liberal democracy and Buddhist communalism in modern Burma

Kawanami, Koko (2016) U Nu's liberal democracy and Buddhist communalism in modern Burma. In: Buddhism and the political process. Palgrave Macmillan, New York, pp. 31-55. ISBN 9781349847471

Abstract

The chapter examines whether the religious and communal ideals pursued by Buddhist monks and liberal democratic policies implemented by Prime Minister U Nu during the period of democratization in the 1950s and 60s Burma were ever compatible, and engages with some of the socio-religious issues that continue to generate tension in a country currently undergoing major political reform.