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56 Matthew J. Walton and Susan Hayward 40. Unless otherwise noted, all passages from suttas are taken from the translations of Venerable Bhikkhu Bodhi in his collection In the Buddha’s Words: An Anthology of Discourses from the Pali Canon (Boston: Wisdom Publications, 2005). 41. See Sitagu Sayadaw (2013). 42. Interview in Yangon, June 2011. 43. Interview in Mandalay, July 2013. 44. Interview with officials from the US Department of State, December 2013. See also Ghosh 2014. 45. Interview in Mandalay, July 2014. 46. Interviews in Yangon and Mandalay, July 2014. 47. Interview in Mandalay, July 2014. 48. See the four-volume set Buddhism and Religious Diversity, edited by Perry SchmidtLeukel (Abingdon: Routledge, 2013). 49. See, for example, a recent discussion on Democratic Voice of Burma’s “DVB Debate” show, entitled “Does Cultural Exchange Mean Changing Culture?” [http://www.dvb.no/dvb-video/dvb-debate-controlling-cultural-changes-burmamyanmar/39938; Accessed May 17, 2014].

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Contesting Buddhist Narratives : Democratization, Nationalism, and Communal Violence in Myanmar

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Hate Speech
Rohingya Crisis

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Matthew J. Walton
Susan Hayward

Date Published: Oct 24, 2014

Abstract: Myanmar's transition to democracy has been marred by violence between Buddhists and Muslims. While the violence originally broke out between Rakhine Buddhists and Rohingya Muslims, it subsequently emerged throughout the country, impacting Buddhists and Muslims of many ethnic backgrounds. This article offers background on these so-called "communal conflicts" and the rise and evolution of Buddhist nationalist groups led by monks that have spearheaded anti-Muslim campaigns. The authors describe how current monastic political mobilization can be understood as an extension of past monastic activism, and is rooted in traditional understandings of the monastic community's responsibility to defend the religion, respond to community needs, and guide political decision-makers. The authors propose a counter-argument rooted in Theravada Buddhism to address the underlying anxieties motivating Buddhist nationalists while directing them toward peaceful actions promoting coexistence. Additionally, given that these conflicts derive from wider political, economic, and social dilemmas, the authors offer a prescription of complementary policy initiatives.

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Contesting Buddhist Narratives : Democratization, Nationalism, and Communal Violence in Myanmar

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