Reflections
Hello readers!
After an incredible summer in Myanmar, I am back in Williamsburg and the first semester of 2L is in full swing, with classes, journal responsibilities, job hunting for next summer and an externship. I am so grateful for the opportunity that I had to work with International IDEA over the summer in Yangon, and I have struggled to sum up the experience. There is so much that I can’t discuss on the blog, due to the sensitive nature of the work, so I feel that I haven’t been able to completely share my experience with you, but I hope that you got a glimpse of life in Yangon.
One thing I can say about my work experience, which I can articulate better now that I have had a few meetings of my Post Conflict Reconstruction class, is that I was very relieved to find that the organization has a “non-prescriptive” mission – they don’t provide advice or suggestions on how the constitutional amendment process should proceed, what provisions should be included, or how the government should be structured. Rather, they are available as a knowledge resource to local stakeholders as they make their own determinations.
This is really important to me as I was concerned with the idea of westerners parachuting in to developing countries and telling them what we think is best for them. As we have been discussing in class, there can be a tension between what the ‘outsiders’ think a fragile state should do, and what the residents of that state value as priorities. There can be a sense that western actors are trying to remake the world in our image, without respect for diversity of cultures and values, and the sovereignty of states.
I participated in several workshops that we held for local stakeholders, including members of Myanmar Parliament, and the organization was extremely respectful of our place in the development process as resources, not directors. In a workshop on federalism, there was a question asking specifically for the speaker’s opinion on what was the best way for the government to be structured regarding a specific power. The speaker was careful to respond that we are not in a position to tell them how to run their country, but that we are just here to share information.
I truly enjoyed my experience in Myanmar and I hope to incorporate international development work into my practice as an attorney. Thank you all for joining me this summer!
-KLP