Leaders | The new Afghanistan

Myanmar could be Asia’s next failed state

Only its neighbours can help put the country on a better path

Apr 15th 2021

WHEN THE generals who run Myanmar drew up a constitution to pave the way for an elected government, albeit one that would have no authority over the army, they termed the arrangement “discipline-flourishing democracy”. Untrammelled political competition, they suggested, would lead to disorder and impede development; only the army could ensure order and prosperity. So it is ironic that, since the army took complete control of the country again in a coup on February 1st, the only thing that has flourished is chaos.

This article appeared in the Leaders section of the print edition under the headline “Asia’s next failed state”