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mage I moment was probably the convening of the the convening probably moment was by in Burma Sixth Council Buddhist 1954-56. from the also asked has scholarship Recent is ?”, “How Theravada question that, the fact to despite attention drawing of the tradition textual core a common and broadly and commentaries scriptures deep are there similar doctrinal tenets, and among practice in variations Buddhists, those identified as Theravada within countries. deep variations even has been some comparative While there of practice on these traditions scholarship the field of Theravada locations, in different relatively thought remains political Buddhist unexplored. within movements Contemporary this both societies reflect Theravada of and the range heritage common concepts. of central interpretations in groups nationalist Buddhist on similar draw to appear Lanka and Sri the protect the need to logic regarding a logic that is rooted community, Buddhist and identity than in text in tradition more hand, the Thai or doctrine. On the other and Santi of Dhammakaya movements but tradition a common begin from Asoke conclusions different radically to come

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B from and there and there Lanka Sri AsiaSoutheast from Theravada tradition was transplanted to to transplanted was tradition Theravada countries have had close religious ties; the had close religious have countries of Bengal in Sri Lanka. Historically these Historically Lanka. of Bengal in Sri mainland Southeast Asia and across the Bay Asiamainland Southeast and across foundation for most of the countries of of the countries most for foundation religious, social, political and cultural and cultural social, political religious, Theravada has provided a provided Buddhism has Theravada A D Comparative Perspective Comparative Theravada Buddhist Political Thought in Thought Political Buddhist Theravada about the role of Buddhism in society and understanding of contemporary politics in Myanmar and he is currently a senior policy the relationship of Buddhist ideas to life in these countries yet also potentially contribute consultant to The Elders on Myanmar issues. the modern world, the former embracing a to broadening the global conversation on Dr Walton’s current book manuscript explores consumer ethic and the latter criticising it in democratic values and practices? Burmese Buddhist political thought and its favour of a radical simplification. Yet even these influence on Myanmar’s current democratic movements’ divergences can be captured more This research will thematically compare strands transition and will be published by Cambridge broadly in what some scholars have referred to of Buddhist political thought in Sri Lanka, University Press in 2016. He also specialises as the “laïcisation” of Buddhism that has been Myanmar, , and , drawing in ethnic and communal conflict in Myanmar, evident across the Theravada world over the last on a small number of key primary sources from having published articles on this topic in Asian 150 years. each country as well as secondary research. Dr Survey, the Journal of Contemporary Asia, and Walton will build on previously conducted work the Journal of Burma Studies. The rise of such a diverse range of movements in Myanmar as well as interviews with scholars, compels more scholarly attention not only to the , writers and activists in each country to Dr Walton has also written book chapters relationship between Buddhism and the state, develop a broadly comparative picture of the on monastic political engagement, disaster but to the ways in which Buddhists interpret history of Buddhist political thought in these relief practices in Myanmar, Buddhist theories and use the moral concepts and frameworks countries as well as contemporary areas of of animal rights and radical environmental from their religious tradition(s) to understand interest, both collectively and in each national politics. In addition to his academic writing, he and navigate the realm of the political. What context. occasionally publishes commentary on are the purposes of a political community? and politics in Myanmar in the news media, Where does political authority come from and This research is supported by a grant from the most recently in Asia Times Online, what is its nature? Thinking particularly about John Fell Fund at the University of Oxford. The Forum and ISLAMiCommentary, addressing pressing contemporary issues, what is the research for this project will form the basis Burmese Buddhist nationalism and the current proper place of Buddhism in Buddhist majority for a book on comparative Theravada political wave of anti-Muslim violence in Myanmar. His states that claim to be (politically) secular? How thought to be published with Hurst Publishers monograph on this subject (co-authored with do various interpretations of Buddhism inform in 2016. The project will also include the Susan Hayward) was published in the East-West different perspectives on and translation of a small number of key primary Center’s Policy Studies Series in 2014. pluralism? What is the nature of the relationship source documents of Buddhist political thought between monks and the political realm (or more in each country into English for inclusion in generally, the worldly realm) and how should the study and for the future creation of a it be discussed and regulated today? What do sourcebook of readings in Theravada Buddhist different Buddhist conceptions of human nature political thought that could be used by suggest regarding the expansion of political instructors. participation? (Are humans fundamentally morally flawed and in need of guidance or Dr. Matthew Walton is the potentially perfectable in a way that democratic Senior Research Fellow in Modern Burmese political processes could effectively bring out?) Studies at St Antony’s College. His research What are some of the Buddhist interpretations focuses on religion and politics in Southeast of democracy that can both assist in our Asia, with a special emphasis on Buddhism in

Funded by the John Fell Fund