Episode 32- Misdirected Rage: The Origins of Islamophobia in Burma, 1930-1948 with Matt Bowser

Join Simon, James, Adam, Chuck, and Huseyin Kurt as we interview Matt Bowser about his dissertation, "Misdirected Rage: The Origins of Islamophobia in Burma, 1930-1948", that takes a deep historical dive into the roots of the current crisis in Myanmar. We take a look at the late colonial period in Burma in the 1930s. Matt's argument looks at the anti-colonial movement between the socialists and the ultra-nationalists who scape-goated the Muslim population in order to gain power, with the encouragement of the British authorities. Matt talks about his academic path looking at empires, and we riff on the tactics of ultra-nationalists, including the fascist U Saw, in their struggle for leadership of the anti-colonial struggle against the socialists. Matt connects the code-words of "Muslim" for blaming Indians without blaming the British. He talks his about theory on co-colonialism, as wealthy Indians ruled Burma economically through the British, even as working class Indians came into the country for work. How did it play out on the ground? How is the 1938 anti-muslim riots connect to how genocide has happened in Myanmar, targeted at Muslims? How does this play out elsewhere? What happens afterwards, during WWII and the Cold War? We also hear about Bowser's research journeys and methods in navigating in a charged political climate to dig up potentially sensitive history in Myanmar. Books to read for more information! Regarding the Rohingya: Ibrahim, Azeem. The Rohingyas: Inside Myanmar’s Hidden Genocide. New Delhi: Speaking Tiger Publishing, 2017. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26717021-the-rohingyas Regarding Buddhism and colonial Burma: Turner, Alicia. Saving Buddhism: The Impermanence of Religion in Colonial Burma. Honolulu: University of Hawaii Press, 2017. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22828775-saving-buddhism Regarding Indian Ocean world: Aiyar, Sana. Indians in Kenya: The Politics of Diaspora. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2015. https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25401212-indians-in-kenya Amrith, Sunil S. Crossing the Bay of Bengal: The Furies of Nature and the Fortunes of Migrants. Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2013 https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/17804366-crossing-the-bay-of-bengal The Breaking History podcast is a production of the Northeastern University History Graduate Student Association. Producers and Sound Editors: Matt Bowser, Cassie Cloutier, and Dan Squizzero Theme Music: Kieran Legg Today's hosts were: Simon Purdue, James Robinson , Chuck Clough, Adam Tomasi, Huseyin Kurt twitter: @BreakingHistPod