That is indeed what did happen in neighbouring Thailand and Malaysia. But especially after 1962 when a military regime led by General NeWin embarked on the "Burmeseway to socialism", the economy of Burma stagnated and living standards began to fall well behind those in most other parts of Southeast Asia. In 1988 popular discontent erupted into mass violence.Anewmilitary regime emerged which has attempted to liberalise the economy and attract new investment from abroad. The results have been disappointing, not least because of the continuing standoff between the regime and Daw Aung Suu Kyi, who leads the party which won a landslide majority in the 1990 election and who sees herself as the legitimate national leader.