The buffalo among the water hyacinth : the communist party of Burma insurgency 1948 - 1989

The dissertation attempts to apply an analytic framework to the Communist Party of Burma's insurgency and subsequent government counterinsurgency conducted in Burma between 1948 and 1989. The framework examines strategy and tactics of the belligerents, wtthout extensive analysis of the governmental system of the counterinsurgent. It suggests there is value in conducting analysis of counterinsurgency with less political bias and that systems of government do not necessarily influence counterinsurgency strategy. It concludes that non-Western, and non-democratic counterinsurgents can and do apply strategies of "winning hearts and minds," rather than being limited to so-called "enemy-centric" or more violent methods than their democratic, Western counterparts.Master of Science (Strategic Studies