Juliane Schober

Buddhist practices and institutions in contemporary Myanmar are under duress in multiple contexts, ranging from widespread social reforms to the rise of extreme Buddhist nationalist discourse, violent communal conflict directed against Muslims and Rohingya communities, and the threat of returning to military rule. The combined impact of these developments underscores the urgent need for Buddhist communities to find new forms of authority in contemporary society. This project looks at emerging Buddhist sentiments and movements that respond to anxieties about who belongs to a new Myanmar. The result book will examine emerging forms of contemporary Buddhism against three different backdrops, Buddhist involvement in national politics, Buddhist-Muslim interactions and global discourse on Buddhist sensibilities and belonging.