Self-Inflicted Instability: Myanmar and the Interlinkage between Human Rights, Democracy and Global Security

ABSTRACT This article examines the case of Myanmar, specifically, how the country’s domestic human rights record and lack of democratic structure has been the root cause of its economic and political instability. The systematic and genocidal persecution of the country’s Rohingya population and denial of their democratic rights has become the central human rights issue upon which the international community defines Myanmar’s reputation. The article identifies how Myanmar’s actions have directly impacted its national security in three ways: internal insecurity, regional insecurity, and economic insecurity. Myanmar is a case study that demonstrates how ethnic conflict and democratic erosion threatens the legitimacy of the nation and hinders the realization of a stable country.