The second edition of the book, titled UNDERSTANDING THE WORLD'S LONGEST CIVIL WAR-- Colonial State Formations, Geopolitics, Conflict Over Natural Resources & the Genocide, and authored by an erudite scholar, Mr. Fazlous Satter, is an extraordinary and exhaustive work. The author possesses a profound understanding of history. This history, as this author attempts to cover, spans from earlier Burmese monarchies to the latest developments of Burmese civil wars. In its various forms and manifestations, it is an authoritative account of Burmese politics, geopolitics, conflicts over natural resources, wars and conquests, alignments and realignments, insurgencies, assimilations and integration, and disintegrations in different periods of its history.
A core focus is the plight of Burma's ethnic nationalities, with dedicated sections covering the origin and insurgency of groups such as the Karen, Karenni (Red Karen), Mon, Kachin, Shan, Chin, Naga, Arakan, and other insurgencies; the Rohingya genocide by Myanmar security forces; the influx of Rohingyas into Bangladesh; the present uncertain and conflictual situation; etc. The book also delves into the rise and fall of the communist insurgency in Burma.
The book analyzes the role of the Burmese armed forces (Tatmadaw) in Myanmar's political landscape, exploring its evolution into a powerful institution with vested economic interests-a "state within a state."
Finally, the volume discusses past and ongoing international interventions in response to these atrocities. It covers efforts to hold perpetrators accountable under international law, referencing significant proceedings such as ICC authorization for investigation and the Gambian case before the ICJ concerning alleged violations of the Genocide Convention.
"I am awestruck to see the vastness of its scope, depth, and intellectual rigor. I commend the author for producing such a comprehensive volume of outstanding depth and breadth in its scope. The author, as it appears to me, is a gifted scholar in his own right on these vexed, tricky, and complex subjects. He has lucidly described those, easily comprehensible by common readers."
-Mohd Aminul Karim, PhD
Former Lt. General, Bangladesh Army
Distinguished Professor, Department of International Relations, Bangladesh University of Professionals (BUP)
Former Professor, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Senior Fellow (non-resident) at the International Institute for Non-Proliferation Studies, USA.
Former Visiting Professor, China Foreign Affairs University, Beijing, China.
"A well-researched history of Myanmar, this book traces the nation's path from colonial rule to independence while unpacking its deep-rooted ethnic conflicts. Clear, comprehensive, and deeply human, it offers essential context for understanding Myanmar's current turmoil. A must-read for researchers, media professionals, and geopolitical analysts."
-Tanvir Chowdhury, Al Jazeera Correspondent, Bangladesh.
