Books published by Firecracker Interactive

What role has civil society played in the history of Burma? Is civil society re-emerging in todayΓÇÖs Burma? How can the international community develop strategies to strengthen the existing institutions that are essential to the growth of pluralism and democracy? What role should international non-governmental organizations play?This collection of essays brings together the research and insights of four experts in the field. Timely and highly readable, these papers present the current thinking on whether and how civil society can develop under the present Burmese military regime. The contributors include David I. Steinberg, Martin Smith, Zunetta Liddell, and Marc Purcell.

For seven centuries, Chiang Mai has been the center of a lively culture and civilization in the hills of what is now northern Thailand. ΓÇ£The Chiang Mai Chronicle,ΓÇ¥ one of the most important histories of the region, was written in 1827 to explain the growth and strength of the Kingdom of Lan Na which Chiang Mai dominated, and to foresee a glorious future after a generation of warfare. This translation of ΓÇ£The Chiang Mai ChronicleΓÇ¥ was prepared from a palm-leaf manuscript. Extensive indexes and annotations have been added, and maps have been drawn especially for this edition.David Wyatt is the John Stambaugh Professor of History at Cornell University, and Aroonrut Wichienkeeo teaches at Chiang Mai Rajabhat Insitute.

This fascinating collection offers a range of grassroots perspectives on development among indigenous peoples of Thailand, Vietnam, Burma, Laos, and Cambodia. Twenty-four essays -- including a number written by indigenous people themselves -- present both theoretical analyses and case studies spanning such topics as tourism, forest conservation, agriculture, prostitution, AIDS, and drugs. These are linked to the pivotal and much broader issues of environment, culture, religion, and government policy.