Mr Lukas Nagel1
1Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia
Biography:
Lukas is a PhD Candidate in International Relations focusing on youth activism in post-coup Myanmar, investigating the narratives and strategies of young activists opposing the 2021 military takeover. With degrees in Sinology (B.A., Free University, Germany) and Asian Studies (M.S., Lund University, Sweden), he has previously contributed to anti-corruption initiatives in Kenya and peace-building efforts across Myanmar, the Philippines, and India. A certified Peace and Conflict consultant and human rights advocate, Lukas is also personally involved with the democratic Milk Tea Alliance.
Abstract:
In the context of global democratic backsliding, youth activism represents a critical response to authoritarianism. Yet, the collective demands of young people that urge them to risk their lives facing dictators, especially in the Global South, are often poorly understood. This study explores the political hopes driving exiled youth activists at the Thai Myanmar border, who are integral to the Spring Revolution against the military coup that disrupted Myanmar's democratic transition in 2021. Employing an exploratory sequential design, the research incorporates 24 qualitative interviews and a subsequent survey on Facebook, focusing on the interplay of intersectionality and consensus-based political demands at both individual and collective levels. The study highlights the value of the Systemic Consensus Principle (SCP) in its survey, arguing that this mode of collective voting is particularly beneficial in politically fragile and diverse contexts.
The findings of this study contribute to the literature on youth and peace, providing a rich and contemporary case study that elucidates the complex factors influencing youth activism in crises. The findings of this study contribute to the literature on youth and peace, providing a rich and contemporary case study that elucidates the complex factors influencing youth activism in crises. It further advances the Systemic Consensing Principle (SCP) in collective action research, illustrating how alternate decision-making processes may help protracted ethno-religious conflicts find common ground and foster solidarity among fragmented resistance forces facing authoritarian suppression.
Keywords: Myanmar, Collective Action Research, Mixed Methods, Youth and Peace, Systemic Consensing Principle (SCP)