1. Introduction.................................................................................... 5
1.1 Context...........................................................................................................5
1.2 Research question ..........................................................................................6
1.3 Previous research ...........................................................................................7
1.4 Importance and aim of study .........................................................................8
1.5 Key concepts..................................................................................................8
1.5.1 Nationalism.............................................................................................8
1.5.2 Ethnic minority group.............................................................................9
1.5.3 Conflict..................................................................................................10
1.6 Limitations...................................................................................................11
1.7 Thesis structure ............................................................................................12
2. Presentation of Myanmar and Historical Background ............ 13
2.1 Factual presentation .....................................................................................13
2.2 Historical background..................................................................................14
2.2.1 From 1823 to 1948: Colonial occupation and Burmese independence14
2.2.2 From 1948 to 2011: Military Dictatorship...........................................16
2.2.3 From 2010 to present: Governmental reforms.....................................18
2.3 Conflict recapitulation .................................................................................19
3. Theoretical Framework............................................................... 21
3.1 Religion & Nationalism...............................................................................21
3.2 Identity & Nation Building..........................................................................25
3.3 Self & Other.................................................................................................25
3. Methodological approach ............................................................ 28
3.1 Ontological and epistemological considerations .........................................28
3.2 Material and data .........................................................................................31
3.3 Case selection ..............................................................................................31
3.4 Data analysis................................................................................................32
3.5 Limitations...................................................................................................35
5. Discussion...................................................................................... 36
5.1 Analysis of narratives, actions and role of Buddhism .................................37
5.1.1 Burmese monks with nationalist ambitions ..........................................37
5.1.2 Governmental use of religion for nationalist purposes........................44
5.2 Discrepancies with Buddhist teachings .......................................................47
5.3 Broader implications of the conflicts...........................................................51
6. Conclusion..................................................................................... 54
Appendix 1 - Map of Myanmar ...................................................... 56
Appendix 2 - Map of Rakhine......................................................... 57
Appendix 3 - Table of casualties and injuries in Rakhine............ 58
Appendix 4 - 969 Symbol................................................................. 59
References......................................................................................... 60