Social construction of Shan nationalism: a case study of the Shan State Army-South (SSA-South)

Despite various ceasefire agreements, violence in Shan state of Myanmar has not subsided. The Shan State Army-South (SSA-South) is one of anti-government insurgents that dismiss ceasefire agreements and continue their fight despite their lack of funding and well-organised military forces to fight for a separate Shan state from Myanmar. Due to the fact that the Shan nationalist movement is fragmented and divided into various groups, many groups have chosen to give up their fight or even cooperate with the central government of Myanmar. However, in the case of the SSA-South, they not only refuse to surrender but also persist with their fight regardless of structural changes in Myanmar’s political landscape. Their fight is sustained by a common myth and belief in the rights and legitimacy of Shan nationhood which is a product of social construction dating back to colonial times and the first Panglong agreement. There are multiple channels that have been used to maintain Shan national identity. This thesis aims to examine how Shan nationalism and national identity are fortified through social constructivism but maintained and disseminated by multiple channels of social communication.