In the 21st century, the failure of modernization and democratization in many post-colonial states and the strengthening of centrifugal forces, such as ethnic nationalism, religious fundamentalism, and feelings of deprivation and marginalization, inside those states have helped many non-state actors garner outsize power and influence. The Arakan Army, an ethnic Rakhine nationalist armed group primarily based in Myanmar’s Rakhine State, is such a non-state actor. The ethnic armed organization (EAO), officially designated a ‘terrorist organization’ by the Myanmar government, has deftly used the centrifugal forces in the Rakhine State – Rakhine nationalism and widespread feelings of political marginalization, economic exploitation, and cultural discrimination among the Rakhine people – to attain popularity, and rallied their ethnic brethren to realize a political vision, aptly termed the “Arakan Dream” through a strategic doctrine called the “Way of Rakhita.”

In the terminology of the Arakan Army, the Arakan Dream refers to the vision of self-rule for the Rakhine people which would enable them to exercise effective control over their governance, resources, and identity. Instead of advocating for outright independence, the Arakan Dream pushes for the Rakhine State to attain confederate status or high level of autonomy within Myanmar. The Arakan Army believes that the Arakan Dream can be realized through the Way of Rakhita, a strategy which rests on four interrelated pillars – nationalism, militarism, historical reframing, and pragmatism.

After the outbreak of the Myanmar Civil War in March 2021 and the initiation of Operation 1027 in October 2023, the Arakan Army has succeeded in partially realizing its vision of the Arakan Dream. It has captured about 90% of territory of the Rakhine State from........

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