Abstract Since gaining independence from British colonial rule in 1948, Myanmar has struggled to attain peace after decades of conflict between the military (Sit-tat) and Ethnic Resistance Organizations ( ero s). The 2011–2020 peace process, framed as “Myanmar-led” or “Myanmar being in the driver’s seat” was dominated by elite negotiations over ceasefire agreements and failed to address entrenched structural inequalities. Following the 2021 coup, the rapid emergence of resistance across the country exposed the limits of Sit-tat rule and fragility of its governing body, the State Administration Council ( sac ), amid worsening economic, social and political instability. This paper applies key peacebuilding concepts, particularly Johan Galtung’s theory of positive and negative peace to analyse Myanmar’s pre-coup peace process. It further draws on critiques of illiberal peacebuilding to understand how the Sit-tat prioritized control over genuine conflict transformation. Using triangulated secondary sources including conflict event data, academic studies, and humanitarian reports, this paper seeks to examine conflict dynamics and the emergence of resilience among resistance actors. It argues that a genuine path toward peace process requires the relinquishment of military control, cooperation among resistance forces, and inclusive participation in political processes.
S. Linn (Fri,) studied this question.