Siobhan Christine-Bligh

In general this is a very well researched and sourced approach to the history of Burma, but does little to critique or evidence a few central claims that the author makes. Mainly that we need to work with the old elite, and that liberalising the market via efficient credit unions and a diversification of the economy into non-extractive goods and services. This is a theory, and is not thoroughly justified. More could have been done to interview the ethnic groups who make up a huge part of the modern Burmese State, and little was done to explore the true cost of Jade, Timber, and Opium extraction and its links to landmine wielding generals and ethnic groups. There is little mention of women’s place in Burmese society.