Publication

This commentary examines religious extremism in Myanmar and its inflammation by the activities of the Buddhist fundamentalist 969 movement led by the monk Wirathu. The author argues that the liberal response to this movement - allowing its extremist rhetoric to drown in a marketplace of ideas - is unlikely to suffice. He further contends that unless suitable corrective action is taken, the prospect of a major Buddhist-Muslim conflagration in Myanmar – with potential regional spillover effects – will remain all too real.