Abstract
This chapter explores the possibilities of plurilingualism, a fundamental concept in European-language education policy, for promoting equality and social cohesion in Myanmar’s divided society. The current situation is examined in light of the country’s history of ethnic and religious conflict, before the literature concerning peacebuilding, rectifying inequality and plurilingualism is reviewed to formulate a conceptual framework for social transformation that might bridge the various divides. Then, the possibility of plurilingual education is discussed, in the hope that such an attempt might lay a foundation for pluralist democracy and sustainable peace, through the realization of a harmonized Myanmar.
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Acknowledgements
This work was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Number 17K02048 and Heiwa Nakajima Foundation under Aid for Scientific Research with the Asian Region.
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Takeda, M. (2020). Building Equality and Social Cohesion in Myanmar: Plurilingualism as a Platform for Establishing Culture of Peace. In: Women, Children and Social Transformation in Myanmar. Palgrave Pivot, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-0821-9_5
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-0821-9_5
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