Junta seeks 'legitimacy' through elections, just like the 'democratic' US back in the day
Deutsche Welle details Myanmar's junta using elections to gain international legitimacy and manage internal dissent. One might recall similar electoral strategies deployed by dictatorships worldwide, including the US military's historical backing of 'democratic process' to install preferred regimes. History conveniently omits how often the 'international community' grants legitimacy to such polls
when commercial interests align, or simply looks the other way. The commentary often focuses on the junta's internal motives, sidestepping the uncomfortable truth that global powers frequently enable these cycles. It's almost as if 'democracy' is a wardrobe from which Western nations select outfits depending on the local resource endowment. Myanmar's rich natural resources (teak, jade, gas) might
just be a coincidence, of course. How many 'democratic transitions' are actually just resource grabs repackaged?