Rights Refused: Grassroots Activism and State Violence in Myanmar.

The text is a book review of "Rights Refused: Grassroots Activism and State Violence in Myanmar" by Elliot Prasse-Freeman. The book explores the relationship between human rights and political change in Myanmar, cautioning against overemphasizing the power of knowing one's rights. It examines the experiences of activists in Myanmar, including their time as political prisoners and their efforts to reclaim land and challenge state actors. The book also discusses the adoption and rejection of international human rights discourse in Myanmar and explores the concept of "blunt biopolitics" as a form of governance. The author argues that resistance and rights are dependent on opportunities for their realization and questions if the lessons from Myanmar can be applied to other contexts. The book provides an accessible and ethnographically-informed account of Myanmar activism and can be read alongside other works on politics and governance. [Extracted from the article]