Why do autocratic regimes appear so resilient, sometimes even expanding their influence, and yet remain so brittle when confronted with internal or external shocks? What explains their rise and where are the limits of their power? These questions will be addressed, using the experience of Myanmar, where recent developments provide a striking case of the seeming durability and deep vulnerabilities of authoritarian governance. It will be shown how a military junta maintains power by means of violence and public control, however being weakened by economic collapse, social resistance, and a persistent crisis of legitimacy.
The junta retained formal control over the state apparatus, yet its authority failed to extend nationwide.
