anuary 04, 2026

After the Second World War, in early 1948, Myanmar regained its independence and sovereignty. During that period, rivalry began to emerge between two major opposing ideological blocs in the world. Notably, a significant development in postwar global politics was the establishment of the United Nations as a worldwide international organization to address and manage international affairs.

The United Nations was founded on four basic principles: the sovereign equality of all member states; the peaceful settlement of disputes between nations; the prohibition of the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity and political independence of any state; and non-interference in the internal affairs of any country. Nevertheless, during the second half of the 20th century, major world powers manipulated smaller countries in various ways to serve their own interests, a practice that came to be known as neo-colonialism.

Under neo-colonialism, direct military invasion and occupation are no longer employed; instead, control is exercised indirectly through political influence and economic dominance, such as lending money and trade. Aid, investment, and markets create economic dependence, thereby obstructing genuine economic sovereignty. Powerful multinational corporations, taking advantage of preferential policies in developing countries, gain access to cheap labour and resources and reap substantial profits. Another key aspect is cultural domination: their cultural standards come to be admired and accepted, leading to the abandonment of indigenous cultural traditions and customs. Therefore, it is necessary to be mindful that under the subtle mechanisms of neo-colonialism, nations and peoples may lose their independence without even realizing it themselves.

In the 21st century, even without directly launching military invasions or occupations, major powers can be seen – upon close observation – to create proxy wars within the territory of targeted countries and to deliberately foment internal instability in pursuit of their strategic objectives. By framing certain issues, they infiltrate and incite segments of the population, secretly providing financial support, supplying slogans, setting methods and tactics to trigger unrest and uprisings, while simultaneously applying pressure through media channels from another front.

Thus, as the new generations continue to safeguard the independence won through the blood and sweat of their forebears, they must understand the subtle characteristics of modern neo-colonialism. It is essential to firmly build the country’s political stability, economic strength, and defence capabilities. To maintain political stability, efforts must be made to achieve unity and peace. That is why every Independence Day, all citizens should keep in mind the significance of their country’s independence and sovereignty and commit themselves to safeguarding and preserving it.

GNLM