Conclusion
Consociational democracy suggests that the problems of a divided or segmented society
can be addressed by accommodating or integrating the different groups. It also emphasizes
cooperation between elites of different cultures. Empirical evidences show that
the Rohingya Muslims have not only been marginalized economically and socially but
also excluded politically both in the formation of Rakhine state government and the
central government. The brutality of military dictatorship from 1962 to 2010 prevented
any implosion or explosion of the simmering tension between Rakhines and Rohingyas.
As the country began to open up to the outside world and the people were gradually
allowed to express their opinions more freely since 2011, the lingering tension between
the two communities manifested in the form of a violent conflict. The complexity of
Rohingya problem fundamentally lies in the fact that they are not considered citizens
of Myanmar. This makes the case unique from the rest of conflicts in the country.
While other ethnic minorities demand autonomy under a federal set up, the Rohingya
Muslims struggle to be recognized as one of the ethnic groups of the country