Notes from the Field: Myanmar

Something big is happening right now in Myanmar. As of today, the military has taken over, announcing measures taken in the name of emergency rule. In others words: a coup. It's absolutely devastating news. But not unprecedented: Myanmar has a long history with this sort of thing. A big headline is that Aung San Suu Kyi has been detained by military powers. The situation is unfolding, and at the moment the events look quite dire. I urge you to follow the news through people who are there on the ground, relaying events as they unfold. For example, @the_ayeminthant on Twitter.

Myanmar is a country that I love and have studied in some depth. In my podcast, Notes from the Field, I did a two part episode on Myanmar's largest city and former colonial capital, Yangon. Though the situation there is grave today, it is in general an incredible and beguiling place. I hope that my episode gives a bit of insight into that, as well as the history of military rule and Aung San Suu Kyi's place in it, which I talk about at some length. I hope it might give you some feeling of personal connection to the place, as well as some background on what's happening. That said, the piece is light in tone, and there's nothing light about what's happening there right now. Like I said, I encourage you to follow sources who are tracking it as it unfolds. In the meantime, maybe this episode (and the second part, which you can find at Notes from the Field) can give you a small glimpse into a wonderful but troubled country.