A comparative study of administrative development in Burma (Myanmar) since 1948

Abstract

This research attempts to study comparatively the administrative development in Burma (Myanmar) by classifying into three periods since its independence in 1948. The major focus of this research is to study the impact on the characteristics of public administration such as maintenance of law and order, public service delivery, corruption, accountability, independence of civil service, and check and balance, by the forces of influencing factors and contextual factors. An open system approach is used to find out the constraints, limitations and nourishments imposed by external environment on public administration. The researcher interviewed twenty-three respondents with civil service, military or business background; out of them twelve oral life stories were studied. The information thus collected was verified with printed life stories and related literature, and analyzed to draw conclusions. According to the findings, the dominating authority in the first period (democratic regime, 1948-62) was a series of elected govemments whereas that in the second period (military/ socialist regime, 1962-88) was made up of three layers with the military and party fused at the top. The third period (military regime, 1988 to present) was, and still is, dominated by pure military. The role of civil servants declined in the first period, later was dumped under the military and party officials in the second period, and finally was oppressed under the military regime. Consequently, many public servants become undisciplined, corrupted and demoralized. Generally, public interest was not served except in the first period. The quality of life of general public declined during the second period, but the market-oriented economy of the third period created a few quick-rich people while fixed salary carners were much poorer. From the comparative study, a number of lessons are learned for the future and the researcher hints certain issues to be resolved in an administrative reform of Myanmar.