Date of Award

11-2025

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Laws (LLM)

Abstract

This thesis examines the relationship between cultural identity, political imagination, and constitutional design in the Kachin context, focusing on the strong preference for presidentialism among political thinkers and interim constitution drafters. Rooted in traditions of armed resistance, charismatic leadership, and the desire for visible sovereignty, presidentialism is widely viewed as the most viable executive model for a post-conflict Kachin future. Yet this preference is often shaped more by symbolic ideals than by a clear understanding of the structural demands of democratic governance.

At the heart of this vision lies the expectation of a strong president: directly elected, culturally rooted, and capable of protecting the Kachin people while unifying diverse communities. The president is imagined not as a ceremonial figure but as a decisive leader who embodies moral authority and sovereignty. This makes presidentialism deeply appealing, especially when contrasted with the mistrusted parliamentary and centralized system seen under past Myanmar governments. However, the interviews and discussions conducted for this study also reveal important concerns, including the dominance of the Kachin Independence Organization (KIO), weak institutional checks, limited public understanding, and questions about inclusivity for women and non-Kachin citizens. The study employs an interdisciplinary approach that combines constitutional law, political science, and empirical interviews with Kachin political thinkers and drafters. identifies five central challenges in adopting presidentialism: overreliance on charismatic leadership, lack of public knowledge, authoritarian legacies, tension between symbolic and real power, and risks of protectionism[2] over inclusion. At the same time, the study highlights promising features, such as the desire for visible accountability merit-based leadership, and opportunities for incremental inclusion. The thesis evaluates two possible presidential models for Kachin: A Directly Elected Single Presidency and A Directly Elected Collective Presidency. Each presents distinct balancing considerations between strong leadership, inclusivity, and accountability.

Ultimately, the thesis argues that presidentialism in Kachin will succeed only if cultural aspirations for strong leadership are matched with institutional safeguards that protect diversity, accountability, and democratic responsibility. By linking political imagination to constitutional design, the study contributes both practical reflections for Kachin drafters and broader insights for post-conflict constitutionalism in multi-ethnic societies.

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