This book charts the course of Burma's controlled revolution- a do-it-yourself revolution that, the author contends, has thus far failed. After tracing the roots of Burmese political culture to the precolonial era, Professor Silverstein concentrates on the period of military rule from 1962 to 1974, and the constitutional dictatorship from 1974 to the present. His analysis focuses on the new leadership, ideals, institutions, and political processes that were grafted onto the previous constitutional system. After providing a careful examination of the economy and foreign policy under both democratic and military rule, he concludes with some astute observations on fundamental problems that must be resolved if the nation is to begin realizing its social and economic potential.