Democracy icon or demagogue? Aung San Suu Kyi and authoritarian populism in Myanmar (Burma)

Populist politics took hold in Myanmar with the installation of a democratically elected civilian government in early 2016 following the landslide victory of The National League for Democracy. Populism played a large part in the party’s election success due to the leadership of the charismatic democracy icon, Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. This chapter identifies the features of populist politics in Myanmar prior to the military coup in February 2021. It focuses on three core areas under Aung San Suu Kyi’s leadership: the Rohingya crisis, the media, and the judiciary. During this period, the state had already taken an authoritarian turn, exposing ethnic minorities, human rights activists, and proponents of secular, liberal politics to ongoing abuses. This chapter draws on academic literature, media coverage, and the author’s personal engagement with civil society actors who were part of the democracy and human rights movement in Myanmar.