Burma: The State of Myanmar (Paperback)

by David I. Steinberg (Author) "Coups may be commonplace in the third world, but a military coup designed to shore up another military regime is unusual, although it has also..." (more)
Key Phrases: political stasis, foreign assistance program, opium production, United States, Aung San Suu Kyi, World Bank (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Long isolated by rigid military rule, Burma, or Myanmar, is one of the least known, significantly sized states in the world. Possessed of a rich cultural history yet facing a range of challenges to stability and growth, it has struck the imaginations of those concerned not only with geopolitical or trade affairs but also with poverty, health and human rights. Steinberg sheds light on this volatile state by exploring issues of authority and legitimacy in its politics, economics, social structure and culture since the popular uprising and military coup of 1988.

Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Georgetown University Press (November 30, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0878408932
• ISBN-13: 978-0878408931
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #828,902 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in this category: (What's this?)

  #69 in

  Books > History > Asia > Myanmar

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must for a realistic perspective, August 16, 2003

By	Tropical Reader "troppo" (Queensland, Australia) - See all my reviews

Steinberg has produced another masterpiece. Having studied Burma for the last 4 years, I have found his work very reliable and it's one of the most unbiased analysis available. Many writings on Burma(Myanmar) are clouded with emotion hence impairing judgement - Steinberg, Silverstein, Smith and a few others are exceptions. This is on a par with some excellent books that have come out of ISEAS. There is some excellent data in this book for anyone who wants to get into understanding the economic history and contemporary political and economic demography. I strongly recomend it for any students who are considering any Burma related studies. His earlier books helped me enormously.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very complete, April 6, 2008

By	Federico Abbasciano "fabba" (Trento, Italy) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

David I. Steinberg has worked with Burma for the last five decades. He has accumulated an amount of knowledge and experience that put him in a position of great authority in the field. This book is just what can be expected from him. Despite being now slightly dated (it was first published in 2000) it is a complete, balanced, informative and elegant piece of work. It is the single best work on Myanmar I have encountered in my studies so far, and I would highly recommend it to anyone interested in the country's recent past, present and future. Plus, it's also a very enjoyable reading! What more can you ask for?

2 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great book, March 26, 2005

By	D. J. Nardi "Dominic J. Nardi, Jr." (Washington, DC) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Burma, the State of Myanmar (Hardcover)

Prof Steinberg presents one of the few unbiased studies of Burma. Being familiar with a wide variety of authors on Burma, I know of no others who can so delicately balance his critique of the Burmese regime with a critique of Western policy toward Burma.