Illicit Economies As A Power Vector In Myanmar: The Case Of The KIO/A And China’s Role In Kachin State.

Abstract

This article aims to look at how illegal economies act as a source of power in Myanmar's armed conflict. It focuses on the actors involved, specifically the military and the Kachin Independence Organization/Army (KIO/A). We see their focus on illegally taking resources like jade, timber, and rare earth minerals from the territory of Kachin state. This situation is also shaped by China's hybrid foreign policy, making it a key actor with a major role in the power struggle between Myanmar's government (the Tatmadaw) and Kachin state. Since the 2021 Myanmar coup, the country has been unstable, fragmented, and weak, leading to a state of anarchy. This allows other groups to try to survive, and to gain influence over decision-making for non-state actors. The article uses a neorealism approach, seeing illegal economies as a resource that changes how actors can manage power and ensure they stay alive. Using a qualitative, documentary, and descriptive method, the article argues that the power situation in international conflicts like Myanmar's can interest other countries. This causes changes and security alarms internationally, and it encourages anarchy