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People Power: the Everyday Politics of Democratic Resistance in Burma and the Philippines

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People Power: the Everyday Politics of Democratic Resistance in Burma and the Philippines People Power: The Everyday Politics of Democratic Resistance in Burma and the Philippines Nicholas Henry A thesis submitted to the Victoria University of Wellington in fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in International Relations Victoria University of Wellington 2011 ii ... the tale he had to tell could not be one of a final victory. It could be only the record of what had had to be done, and what assuredly would have to be done again in the never ending fight against terror and its relentless onslaughts, despite their personal afflictions, by all who, while unable to be saints but refusing to bow down to pestilences, strive their utmost to be healers. Albert Camus, The Plague This thesis is dedicated to all those who, resisting the terror of state violence, continue to do what has to be done. iii Abstract How do Community Based Organisations (CBOs) in Burma and the Philippines participate in the construction of political legitimacy through their engagement in local and international politics? What can this tell us about the agency of non-state actors in international relations? This thesis explores the practices of non-state actors engaged in political resistance in Burma and the Philippines. The everyday dynamics of political legitimacy are examined in relation to popular consent, political violence, and the influence of international actors and norms. The empirical research in this thesis is based on a grounded theory analysis of in-depth semi-structured interviews with a wide cross-section of spokespeople and activists of opposition groups from Burma, and with spokespeople of opposition groups in the Philippines. The research covers community-based organisations with broad memberships, including women’s organisations, student and youth groups, ethnic minority and indigenous groups, and trade unions. The thesis demonstrates that CBOs exercise a range of tactics in forming political relationships in local and international contexts, and emphasises the role of learning processes in the interaction of local and international norms in the course of political change. iv Contents Abstract...............................................................................................................................................iv Acknowledgements.........................................................................................................................viii Figure 1: Map of Burma ...............................................................................................................1 Figure 2: Map of the Philippines.................................................................................................2 Introduction........................................................................................................................................3 Outline of the Thesis ..................................................................................................................11 Chapter One: The Research Process.............................................................................................13 Community Based Organisations (CBOs)...............................................................................15 Methodology ................................................................................................................................16 Research ethics.............................................................................................................................21 Fieldwork and analysis................................................................................................................22 Emergence of themes .................................................................................................................24 Relationships............................................................................................................................24 Legitimacy ................................................................................................................................26 Learning....................................................................................................................................29 Chapter Two: Consensual Power: The Everyday Politics of Non-State Legitimacy.............32 Historical Development of Opposition in Burma .................................................................32 Historical Development of Opposition in the Philippines...................................................35 Constructing Consensual Power: Legitimate Non-State Actors..........................................36 Resistance.................................................................................................................................37 Assistance.................................................................................................................................40 Communication.......................................................................................................................41 Conclusion....................................................................................................................................47 Chapter Three: Resisting Oppression: The Everyday Politics of Challenges to State Legitimacy .........................................................................................................................................48 The Politics of Regime Legitimacy in Burma and the Philippines.......................................51 Contesting State Legitimacy: Motivations ...............................................................................57 Lack of Education...................................................................................................................57 Lack of Economic Opportunities ........................................................................................62 Military Oppression................................................................................................................68 Political Oppression ...............................................................................................................71 Challenging and Engaging the State .........................................................................................74 Conclusion....................................................................................................................................78 Chapter Four: Political Violence and Non-Violence..................................................................80 Theories of Non-Violent Global Civil Society .......................................................................81 Relations in the Community ......................................................................................................84 Burma........................................................................................................................................84 The Philippines........................................................................................................................88 Relations in the Organisation ....................................................................................................89 Burma........................................................................................................................................89 The Philippines........................................................................................................................91 v Relations with Local Groups .....................................................................................................92 Burma........................................................................................................................................92 Philippines................................................................................................................................94 Relations with the State ..............................................................................................................95 Burma........................................................................................................................................95 The Philippines........................................................................................................................97 Relations with International Groups........................................................................................98 Burma........................................................................................................................................98 The Philippines......................................................................................................................101 Conclusion..................................................................................................................................101 Chapter Five: Legitimacy is Learnt: Processes of Political Change........................................103 Educating....................................................................................................................................104 Burma......................................................................................................................................104 The Philippines......................................................................................................................108 Documenting..............................................................................................................................110
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