Book Launch: Active Citizens under Political Wraps

January 10th, 2007 by ihsan

A collection of essays on civil society in Vietnam and Myanmar / Burma focusing on the perspectives for pro-democracy and pro-change politics has been recently published.

Full PDF version available here:

Active Citizens under Political Wraps: Experiences from Myanmar / Burma and Vietnam

The publication compiles a collection of essays reflecting and analysing the experiences and developments of civil society in Vietnam and Myanmar/Burma in their pursuit for pro-democracy and pro-change politics in their respective, controlling state. The essays look from different angles into the question how citizens, civic organisations, communities, and activists engage and co-operate with sub-national level state institutions in order to break up the gridlock situation and support a successful societal and political transformation. The book confronts the mainstream view that civil society either does not or cannot function in countries like Vietnam and Myanmar/Burma.

painting Myanmar / Burma ca. 1880

The volume is based on a two-day roundtable entitled “Societal and Political Change in Vietnam: An instructive Example for Myanmar/Burma” that took place in Berlin, Germany in March/April 2006 under the auspices of the Heinrich Böll Foundation and in co-operation with the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. The essays were presented and written by academics, researchers, individuals, and practitioners coming from Myanmar/Burma, Vietnam, Thailand and Germany.

A hard copy of the publication can be ordered free of charge from the following address:

Heinrich Böll Foundation Southeast Asia Regional Office
Publication Order: Myanmar/Burma & Vietnam
P.O. Box 119 Chiang Mai University Post Office
Chiang Mai 50202, Thailand
Fon +66-053-810430-2
Fax +66-053-810124
sea@hbfasia.org