The world now has two Myanmars

Myanmar’s two diplomatic realities: Who really speaks for the country?

Walking through the United Nations General Assembly in New York this year, one of the most striking diplomatic contradictions was the question of who actually speaks for Myanmar. For most countries represented at the UN, the answer is straightforward. Governments appoint ambassadors, ambassadors represent those governments, and the international community generally accepts that the government controlling the state also holds its diplomatic voice…

The world now has two Myanmars

Walking through the UN General Assembly in New York this year, one of the more striking diplomatic contradictions concerned Myanmar. For most countries represented at the UN, there is little ambiguity about who speaks for the state. Governments appoint ambassadors, ambassadors represent governments and both claim authority over the same country. Myanmar was different. Its presence at the UN exposed a question that runs through the country’s enti…