The Legitimation Process of Myanmar's National Unity Government

Abstract

This research article aimed to 1) examine the process of legitimation of Myanmar's National Unity Government (NUG), 2) analyze the strategies employed in this legitimation process, and 3) analyze the factors influencing the legitimation process of the NUG, using David Beetham's framework of political legitimacy as the analytical framework. This qualitative research employed documentary analysis, drawing on NUG statements and policies, reports from international organizations, academic literature, and relevant news reports. Data were analyzed using content analysis combined with chronological event sequencing. The findings indicate that 1) the NUG established legitimacy by invoking the results of the 2020 election at the domestic level, alongside employing democratic discourse and diplomatic maneuvering on the international stage; 2) the NUG pursued multidimensional strategies to challenge the authority of the military regime, including establishing an alternative government structure, supporting the civil disobedience movement, founding the People's Defense Force, and building alliances with ethnic armed organizations; and 3) internal factors supporting the NUG's legitimacy included popular support and cooperation from ethnic groups, while external obstructing factors included the international community's lack of formal recognition of the NUG, compounded by ASEAN's principle of non-interference. The findings of this study suggest that the conflict in Myanmar exists within a "Legitimacy Paradox," whereby the State Administration Council (SAC) possesses coercive power but lacks legitimacy, while the NUG possesses legitimacy but lacks coercive power—representing an extension and expansion of the application of Beetham's theory for analyzing contemporary conflicts.