8/12/22, 11:04 AM Hate narratives and democracy in Myanmar - New Mandala “Western aid workers felt that values and vision of democracy in Myanmar were being questioned,” said Wells. “But reactions to violence were guided by assumptions about what a modern democracy in Myanmar should look like. “There was also a view that democracy could only happen if there was unity; if people put aside difference.” Wells warned that some in Myanmar saw this stress on unity as potentially oppressive, and that it breeds authoritarianism. “Some activists are concerned that communal violence is reinforcing some undesirable aspects of Myanmar political culture,” said Wells. Meanwhile, he noted, the government seemed to be benefitting from ongoing communal violence and the greater stress on unity. It all goes to show that narratives on violence and absolutes on what Myanmar’s democracy should look like are hard to reconcile. But be reconciled, they must. James Giggacher is editor of New Mandala. https://www.newmandala.org/hate-narratives-and-democracy-in-myanmar/ 3/3