Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma
Myanmar, 1962–1988. Draft, not yet reviewed
The Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma was a socialist country under the leadership of Ne Win and the Burma Socialist Programme Party. Ne Win and his allies in the Tatmadaw overthrew the government of Prime Minister U Nu in a coup d'état on 2 March 1962. Ne Win's governance of Burma was characterised by totalitarianism, isolationism, superstition, xenophobia, and a rejection of Cold War politics. In 1988, mass protests known as the 8888 Uprising pressured BSPP officials, including Ne Win, to resign en masse and adopt a multi-party system.
Seat of power: Yangon
Rulers
Ne Win
President of Myanmar, 1974–1981
He was a Burmese general and politician who served as Burma's head of government from 1958 to 1960 and again from 1962 to 1974, and also as head of state from 1962 to 1981. His rule was characterized by a non-aligned foreign policy, isolationism, one-party rule, economic stagnation, and superstition. Ne Win resigned in July 1988 in response to the 8888 Uprising that overthrew the Burma Socialist Programme Party.
Portrait of Ne Win: Moshe Pridan, Public domain, file
San Yu
President of Myanmar, 1981–1988
He was a Burmese army general and statesman who served as the fifth president of Myanmar from 9 November 1981 to 27 July 1988. He joined the Burma Independence Army in 1942.
Portrait of San Yu: Unknown authorUnknown author, Public domain, file
Culture
- In April 1962, the Revolutionary Council introduced the Burmese Way to Socialism and declared it Burma's state ideology.
- The nationalisation of major industries and rejection of foreign investment led to catastrophic declines in economic growth and living standards.
- The Shwedagon is the most sacred Buddhist pagoda in Myanmar, as it is believed to contain relics of the four previous Buddhas of the present kalpa.
Picture
The Shwedagon Pagoda is a gilded stupa located in Yangon, Myanmar.
Image: Bjørn Christian Tørrissen, CC BY-SA 4.0, file
Sources
- Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma (Wikipedia)
- Socialist Republic of the Union of Burma (Wikidata)
- About the picture (Wikipedia)
Text adapted from the Wikipedia articles listed as sources, CC BY-SA 4.0.