Myanmar has a long history of military repression and an even longer history of resistance to authoritarian rule. From anti-colonial struggles to the latest Spring Revolution, different generations of activists have risen against unelected forces’ claims to power. Compared to previous waves of activism against military rule, the Spring Revolution that emerged after the coup of February 2021 is characterized by a broader group of participants, with different societal groups and ethnicities united against a common enemy. It has also been characterized by a militarization of resistance beyond the ethnic armed organizations (EAOs) that operate mostly in the border areas. Since the latest coup, Myanmar youth in particular are more determined than ever not to revert back to the situation before the political transition period of the 2010s, during which they experienced more liberties and opportunities. Facing an increasingly violent military response, many youth have resorted to armed resistance, with former student activists now fighting in a mosaic of armed groups under different banners and with sometimes diverging goals. Based on interviews with young activists conducted in the last six months, this presentation will sketch the dilemmas facing Myanmar youth who have been deprived of their newly found opportunities while continuing to be subdued by politically vocal older generations, yet remain determined to continue their struggle. What options for agency remain available to them in the face of waning international support, lack of socio-economic opportunities and the threat of forced conscription, and what ideologies do they adhere to in their resistance efforts?
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