Although Burma/Myanmar has long been overlooked as a dedicated subject of study, there is a growing interest in this country. This course provides a comprehensive introduction to the history, society and contemporary politics of Burma. The first part of the course introduces the colonial and post-colonial history and politics of Burma. The second part examines a range of contemporary issues such as military rule, conflict and ethnic insurgency, refugees and human rights, the drugs trade, the environment, the economy, and debates around international pressure for change.

Learning Outcomes

Upon successful completion, students will have the knowledge and skills to:

 

 

 

At the end of the semester, students will have a general understanding of the history, culture and politics of Burma/Myanmar, from pre-colonial to colonial, to post-colonial periods. In addition to the completion of two analytical essays on assigned topics, students will also carry out independent research papers on course-relevant topics of their own choosing, thus honing their library research skills and ability to critically assess relevant documents related to issues on Burma/Myanmar. For those post-graduate students with a specific research interest in Burma/Myanmar and/or Mainland Southeast Asia, where applicable, library research in Southeast Asian language source materials will be emphasized, as will critical engagement in broader debates in Southeast Asian Studies.

Research-Led Teaching

I have been doing work about and within Burma/Myanmar for nearly 20 years, including video production, ethnic research, land history and popular culture. I am fluent in Burmese and in Shan languages, so I strive bring to my courses the nuance of cultural translation, with consideration of how concepts and movements can be understood differently. I have numerous publications from this research (which I don't assign - for a good reason!) but these research pieces are also behind the content of several lectures in the course.

Field Trips

Students are encouraged to attend the Myanmar Update Conference on campus in March http://myanmar.anu.edu.au/events/myanmarburma-update/myanmar-update-2019

Examination Material or equipment

Final independent research paper, using scholarly resources, library materials.

Required Resources

All materials provided on the Wattle site

Recommended Resources

The Menzies Library is a tremendous resource for Burma/Myanmar Studies, as is the National Library of Australia. The NLA has a wonderful collection of old Burmese periodicals. For any student of the course, I thoroughly recommend having a browse of these collections.

Staff Feedback

Students will be given feedback in the following forms in this course:

• Written comments
• Verbal comments
• Feedback to the whole class, to groups, to individuals, focus groups

Student Feedback

ANU is committed to the demonstration of educational excellence and regularly seeks feedback from students. Students are encouraged to offer feedback directly to their Course Convener or through their College and Course representatives (if applicable). The feedback given in these surveys is anonymous and provides the Colleges, University Education Committee and Academic Board with opportunities to recognise excellent teaching, and opportunities for improvement. The Surveys and Evaluation website provides more information on student surveys at ANU and reports on the feedback provided on ANU courses.

Class Schedule

Week/Session	Summary of Activities	Assessment
1	Approaching Burma/Myanmar: Challenges to Studying A Dynamic Place
2	Cultural, Philosophical and Religious Contexts
3	Colonialism: Power, Economy, and Culture
4	Ethnic Identities and Ethnic Tensions
5	Anti-Colonial Nationalism and the Upheavals of the World War II
6	Gendered Modernity and the Role of Women in Burmese History
7	Art and Popular Culture
8	Religion, Activism, Revolution, from 8-8-88 to the Saffron Revolution
9	War, Drugs and Insurgency?
10	Political systems, International Relations, and Engaging with a military dictatorship
11	Myanmar “Opens Up” – Politics of Transition
12	Student Research Presentations

Tutorial Registration

n/a

Assessment Summary

Assessment task	Value	Due Date	Return of assessment	Learning Outcomes
In-class Participation and Presentation of Readings to Peers	20 %	*	*	1
Short Essay #1	20 %	22/03/2021	29/03/2021	1
Short Essay #2	20 %	26/04/2021	03/05/2021	1
Independent Research Paper	40 %	07/06/2021	04/07/2021	1

* If the Due Date and Return of Assessment date are blank, see the Assessment Tab for specific Assessment Task details

Policies

ANU has educational policies, procedures and guidelines, which are designed to ensure that staff and students are aware of the University’s academic standards, and implement them. Students are expected to have read the Academic Misconduct Rule before the commencement of their course. Other key policies and guidelines include:

• Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure
• Special Assessment Consideration Policy and General Information
• Student Surveys and Evaluations
• Deferred Examinations
• Student Complaint Resolution Policy and Procedure

Assessment Requirements

The ANU is using Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website Students may choose not to submit assessment items through Turnitin. In this instance you will be required to submit, alongside the assessment item itself, hard copies of all references included in the assessment item.

Moderation of Assessment

Marks that are allocated during Semester are to be considered provisional until formalised by the College examiners meeting at the end of each Semester. If appropriate, some moderation of marks might be applied prior to final results being released.

Participation

As part of Participation marks, each student will be required to select a minimum of two weeks' assigned readings to present during tutorials. These are part of your participation mark, and you should think of your presentation as more than just a basic summary of the readings, but as you teaching the readings to your peers. What are the main points for discussion? If you didn’t understand a point, or find something controversial, how would you engage with your peers in discussion of this? For the sake of balance and equity, I will be sending around a sign-up sheet for these at the beginning of the semester. Remember, you are only required to introduce two readings, but active, engaged participation in all tutorials is expected, and will be evaluated accordingly.

Examination(s)

There will be no sat exams, but rather three written assignments: two assigned short essays and one Independent Research Paper.

Assessment Task 1

In-class Participation and Presentation of Readings to Peers

As part of Participation marks, each student will be required to select a minimum of two weeks' assigned readings to present during tutorials. These are part of your participation mark, and you should think of your presentation as more than just a basic summary of the readings, but as you teaching the readings to your peers. What are the main points for discussion? If you didn’t understand a point, or find something controversial, how would you engage with your peers in discussion of this? For the sake of balance and equity, I will be sending around a sign-up sheet for these at the beginning of the semester. Remember, you are only required to introduce two readings, but active, engaged participation in all tutorials is expected, and will be evaluated accordingly.

Assessment Task 2

Short Essay #1

An essay of at least 2,500 words, based on assigned readings, and in response to a topic proposed by the instructor.

Assessment Task 3

Short Essay #2

An essay of at least 2,500 words, based on assigned readings, and in response to a topic proposed by the instructor.

Assessment Task 4

Independent Research Paper

A research paper of 5,000 words, minimum, making use of library research to develop an original research question; part of the expectation for the assessment is that the student will also give a ten minute presentation of her/his findings to the class at the end of the semester.

Academic Integrity

Academic integrity is a core part of our culture as a community of scholars. At its heart, academic integrity is about behaving ethically. This means that all members of the community commit to honest and responsible scholarly practice and to upholding these values with respect and fairness. The Australian National University commits to embedding the values of academic integrity in our teaching and learning. We ensure that all members of our community understand how to engage in academic work in ways that are consistent with, and actively support academic integrity. The ANU expects staff and students to uphold high standards of academic integrity and act ethically and honestly, to ensure the quality and value of the qualification that you will graduate with. The University has policies and procedures in place to promote academic integrity and manage academic misconduct. Visit the following Academic honesty & plagiarism website for more information about academic integrity and what the ANU considers academic misconduct. The ANU offers a number of services to assist students with their assignments, examinations, and other learning activities. The Academic Skills and Learning Centre offers a number of workshops and seminars that you may find useful for your studies.

Online Submission

The ANU uses Turnitin to enhance student citation and referencing techniques, and to assess assignment submissions as a component of the University's approach to managing Academic Integrity. While the use of Turnitin is not mandatory, the ANU highly recommends Turnitin is used by both teaching staff and students. For additional information regarding Turnitin please visit the ANU Online website.

Hardcopy Submission

For some forms of assessment (hand written assignments, art works, laboratory notes, etc.) hard copy submission is appropriate when approved by the Associate Dean (Education). Hard copy submissions must utilise the Assignment Cover Sheet. Please keep a copy of tasks completed for your records.

Late Submission

Late submission of assessment tasks without an extension are penalised at the rate of 5% of the possible marks available per working day or part thereof. Late submission of assessment tasks is not accepted after 10 working days after the due date, or on or after the date specified in the course outline for the return of the assessment item. Late submission is not accepted for take-home examinations.

Referencing Requirements

Accepted academic practice for referencing sources that you use in presentations can be found via the links on the Wattle site, under the file named “ANU and College Policies, Program Information, Student Support Services and Assessment”. Alternatively, you can seek help through the Students Learning Development website.

Extensions and Penalties

Extensions and late submission of assessment pieces are covered by the Student Assessment (Coursework) Policy and Procedure The Course Convener may grant extensions for assessment pieces that are not examinations or take-home examinations. If you need an extension, you must request an extension in writing on or before the due date. If you have documented and appropriate medical evidence that demonstrates you were not able to request an extension on or before the due date, you may be able to request it after the due date.

Privacy Notice

The ANU has made a number of third party, online, databases available for students to use. Use of each online database is conditional on student end users first agreeing to the database licensor’s terms of service and/or privacy policy. Students should read these carefully. In some cases student end users will be required to register an account with the database licensor and submit personal information, including their: first name; last name; ANU email address; and other information. In cases where student end users are asked to submit ‘content’ to a database, such as an assignment or short answers, the database licensor may only use the student’s ‘content’ in accordance with the terms of service — including any (copyright) licence the student grants to the database licensor. Any personal information or content a student submits may be stored by the licensor, potentially offshore, and will be used to process the database service in accordance with the licensors terms of service and/or privacy policy. If any student chooses not to agree to the database licensor’s terms of service or privacy policy, the student will not be able to access and use the database. In these circumstances students should contact their lecturer to enquire about alternative arrangements that are available.

Distribution of grades policy

Academic Quality Assurance Committee monitors the performance of students, including attrition, further study and employment rates and grade distribution, and College reports on quality assurance processes for assessment activities, including alignment with national and international disciplinary and interdisciplinary standards, as well as qualification type learning outcomes. Since first semester 1994, ANU uses a grading scale for all courses. This grading scale is used by all academic areas of the University.

Support for students

The University offers students support through several different services. You may contact the services listed below directly or seek advice from your Course Convener, Student Administrators, or your College and Course representatives (if applicable).

• ANU Health, safety & wellbeing for medical services, counselling, mental health and spiritual support
• ANU Diversity and inclusion for students with a disability or ongoing or chronic illness
• ANU Dean of Students for confidential, impartial advice and help to resolve problems between students and the academic or administrative areas of the University
• ANU Academic Skills and Learning Centre supports you make your own decisions about how you learn and manage your workload.
• ANU Counselling Centre promotes, supports and enhances mental health and wellbeing within the University student community.
• ANUSA supports and represents undergraduate and ANU College students
• PARSA supports and represents postgraduate and research students