Brokered Rule: Militias, Drugs, and Borderland Governance in the Myanmar-China Borderlands

This article develops the concept of brokerage to analyse systems borderland governance that have underpinned processes state formation and capitalist development in conflict-affected Myanmar-China region northern Shan State since late 1980s. It focuses on arrangements developed between Myanmar Army local militias, how illegal drug trade has become integral these brokered rule. draws particular attention inherent tensions contradictions surrounding brokerage. In short term, deploying militias as brokers provided an expedient mechanism through which sought extend embed authority, also stability coercive muscle needed attract capital, expand trade, intensify resource extraction. However, at same time, use their position aggrandise own power counter extension central control. longer thus had effect reinvigorating strongman governance, further fragmenting means violence proliferation drugs disempowering non-militarised forms political negotiation.