Editing Politics of Myanmar (section)

=== Military socialist era ===
In 1962, General [[Ne Win]] led a [[coup d'état]] and established a socialist military government that sought to create a "[[Burmese Way to Socialism]]". The military expropriated private businesses and followed an economic policy of [[autarky]], or economic isolation.  The Burmese Way to Socialism emphasized that the military was to have a central role in governing the country, and that the Burmese language and Buddhism were central to identity.<ref>Saw Eh Htoo and Tony Waters (2024).  General Ne Win's Legacy of Burmanization in Myanmar.  Palgrave MacMillan.</ref>

There were sporadic protests against military rule during the Ne Win years and these were almost always violently suppressed. On 7 July 1962, the government broke up demonstrations at [[Rangoon University]], killing 15 students. In 1974, the military violently suppressed anti-government protests at the funeral of [[U Thant]]. Student protests in 1975, 1976 and 1977 were quickly suppressed by overwhelming force. The military government of General Ne Win was deposed following the massive [[8888 Uprising]] in 1988 when thousands died, but immediately replaced by another military junta.