Myanmar's capital relocation from Yangon to Pyinmana Naypyidaw

Abstract

This thesis aims to study Myanmar’s capital relocation from Yangon to Pyinmana Naypyidaw through the integration of interdisciplinary knowledge in order to enrich and enhance a better understanding about the possible factors of capital relocation in contemporary Myanmar. The research finds that transferring a capital has not been an unusual phenomenon in historical context. Ancient Burmese monarchs were inclined to shift their capital for several reasons such as the manifestation of power and political charisma, the ward of bad omens in the old capital and the adaptation of military strategy to resist or suppress the enemy. However, current capital relocation is structurally different from the past and has been continuously influenced by new circumstances in the post-Cold war era. The establishment of Pyinmana Naypyidaw is significantly considered as a grand strategy of ruling military government and consists of three main factors: politico-military security, hinterland economic development and spiritual-cultural unity. Among several factors involved, the ruling junta has paid special attention to security strategy to strengthen the army and ensure the dictatorship regime. As a consequence, the ruling government has confronted with security threats, for example, democratic movements inside Yangon, civil wars with ethnic insurgencies and the paranoia of American sea-borne invasion. Thus, moving a capital can be perceived as the great transformation of security strategy in order to keep the power of current military regime. On the other hand, shifting a capital is also related to hinterland economic development, for example, the expansion of agricultural spaces in the dry zone, the development of natural resources and energy supplies in mountainous area and the enlargement of transportation systems. In this respect, the new capital will function as the centre of inland development strategy for building the strong economic power of ruling regime in governing and controlling the whole country. Moreover, current capital relocation is also partly driven by socio-cultural factor to decorate and fulfill the process of transferring the capital in Burmese context. As a result, the military junta has adopted and applied ancient royal traditions, astrological principles and the policy of anti-western colonialism for building the historical pride and uplifting the image of current government as the powerful ruler like Burmese monarchs in the past. In geopolitical dimension, Pyinmana which is located in the central position of the country in Upper Sittang Valley surrounded by mountainous areas and not far from mineral deposits is strategically suitable for the effective conduct of political, economic and military strategy and can also ensure the strong regime to rule and control the Union of Myanmar in the future.