

Other ethnic groups mostly occupy territories in the various border regions, including the Chin, Kachin, Karen, Mon, Rakhine, Shan, and Wa.Ĭompared to American culture, the Burmese are considerably more collectively oriented and less direct in communication 3. Of the estimated population of 56 million, the largest ethnic group, the Burmese, comprises about 68% of the population 2. There are eight main ethnic groups inhabiting the country, with 130 distinctive subgroups. Myanmar is an ethnically diverse country. Myanmar is currently undergoing a new democratic transition, with opposition parties being allowed to participate in elections and the military taking a less-active role in politics 1. The military government however, refused to recognize the results and placed the opposition leaders under house arrest. In 1990, the country held democratic elections, in which the main opposition party won a majority of votes.

In 1962, a military coup abolished the constitution and established a military junta, which is a group of military officers who rule the country after seizing power 1. Myanmar was granted independence from Britain in 1948, following the drafting of a constitution in 1947 1. The Republic of the Union of Myanmar (formerly Burma) is located in Southeast Asia and shares borders with Bangladesh, India, China, Laos, and Thailand. Background History and Ethnic Makeup of Myanmar
