The British Council, in partnership with the British International Studies Association (BISA), launched the New Voices in Cultural Relations – a competition aimed at recognizing exceptional Master’s dissertations that contribute new scholarly insights or propose innovative policy directions in the field of international relations.

The judging panel was chaired by Professor Kyle Grayson (Chair of BISA and Newcastle University) and included Dr. Nancy Annan (Coventry University), Dr. Yoav Galai (Royal Holloway, University of London) and Dr. Victoria Hudson (King’s College London). 

Htet Lynn Oo – who graduated from The University of Manchester with an MA in Peace and Conflict Studies – received a special commendation for his dissertation 'Dynamics of 21st-century anti-coup resistance in Myanmar: triangle model of resistance in Myanmar’.

Htet Lynn shares how the resistance movement against the military coup in Myanmar intends to explore and challenge the dichotomy between non-violence and armed resistance in the context of contemporary resistance studies. This paper contributes to contemporary resistance studies by analysing the dynamic interaction and collaboration among different forms of resistance in Myanmar, challenging conventional theoretical frameworks, and emphasizing the practical implications for future resistance movements globally. 

The judging panel commented: 

This dissertation offers a well-written exploration of resistance in Myanmar, showcasing deep knowledge and effectively engaging with literature. It introduces a valuable 'triangle model of resistance' which contributes to resistance studies more generally. The study’s in-depth engagement with documents enriches the analysis of the case study. 

Citation

Oo, H. L. (2024). Dynamics of 21st-century anti-coup resistance in Myanmar: triangle model of resistance in Myanmar. British Council. doi.org/10.57884/D1CE-7S22