Narrative and elucidating the concept of democracy

The case of Myanmar’s activists and democratic leaders

Bibliographic Data

ID7279984
AuthorsTimothy Wells (0000-0002-5604-7081, The University of Melbourne, corresponding author), Tamas Wells
Year2018
Volume26
Issue2
Pages190-207
Publication date2018-09-06
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueDemocratization (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1351-0347 • E-ISSN: 1743-890X
PublisherTaylor & Francis (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13510347.2018.1509850
OpenAlexW2892198034
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited35

Narrative analysis has been widely employed in the social sciences. Yet there has been no systematic application of narrative theory to the study of how the word "democracy" is given meaning by political actors. Using the empirical example of the Burmese democracy movement in the lead up to the historic 2015 election victory of the National League for Democracy, this article argues that narrative analysis can contribute in unique ways to the interpretive task of "elucidating" the concept of democracy. Tracing plot and character construction within activist and aid worker stories about democracy in Myanmar, this study reveals three prominent and diverging narratives of democracy within and around the movement; a liberal narrative, centring on liberal democratic institutions and values, a benevolence narrative, focussing on the value of moral leadership and selflessness, and an equality narrative, highlighting the importance of cultural reform towards greater relational equality. Attention to these narratives has implications for donor "democracy promotion" strategies raising new questions about the role of formal institutions of democracy, the perceived source of "solutions", and the impact on internal struggles within democracy movements

Democracy · Literature · Narrative · Narrative inquiry · Political science · Politics · Social movement · Sociology · Victory · Asian Geopolitics and Ethnography · Cambodian History and Society · Interpreting and Communication in Healthcare · Law

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