BURMA AND ASEAN: Estranged Bedfellows.

The article discusses the relations between the nation of Burma with the Association of South-East Asian Nations (ASEAN) from 1997 to 2008. ASEAN has been pressured by other international groups to deal forcefully with Burma for its human rights violations. When Burma joined ASEAN in 1997, ASEAN was not committed to any democratic idealogies, which made the partnership more palatable for the ruling junta of Burma. However, as other ASEAN nations have become committed to democratic ideals, they have put a strain on their relationship with Burma.