Vietnam as a model for Burma's development?

Active citizens under political wraps experiences from Myanmar / Burma and Vietnam

[free ebook] Published by the Heinrich Böll Foundation, Southeast Asia Regional Office, Chiang Mai, Thailand, November 2006, pp 201.

A 209-page ebook containing papers that discuss and compare development of Vietnam and Burma at the local neighborhood level.

"The publication compiles a collection of essays reflecting and analysing the experiences and developments of civil society in Vietnam and Myanmar/Burma in their pursuit for pro-democracy and pro-change politics in their respective, controlling state. The essays look from different angles into the question how citizens, civic organisations, communities, and activists engage and co-operate with sub-national level state institutions in order to break up the gridlock situation and support a successful societal and political transformation. The book confronts the mainstream view that civil society either does not or cannot function in countries like Vietnam and Myanmar/Burma.

"The volume is based on a two-day roundtable entitled “Societal and Political Change in Vietnam: An instructive Example for Myanmar/Burma” that took place in Berlin, Germany in March/April 2006 under the auspices of the Heinrich Böll Foundation and in co-operation with the German Institute for International and Security Affairs. The essays were presented and written by academics, researchers, individuals, and practitioners coming from Myanmar/Burma, Vietnam, Thailand and Germany.