Evidence boundary
The case concerns particular organisations, political conditions and periods in Myanmar. Buddhism, Buddhist nationalism, state violence and diverse resistance are not the same thing.
GCSE case study · Human Rights
Buddhist nationalism and resistance in Myanmar
Myanmar shows both the abuse of Buddhist identity by nationalist movements and Buddhist or interfaith resistance to hatred.
01 · Case
Case outline
A United Nations fact-finding report documents nationalist and anti-Muslim rhetoric, discrimination and serious violence in Myanmar. Nationalist actors used Buddhist identity and narratives of threat. Buddhist and interfaith actors have also campaigned for peace, protection and cooperation, revealing competing responses within a religious and political crisis.
The case resists two easy stories: that Buddhism's peaceful teachings make Buddhist extremism impossible, or that Buddhism alone explains every part of the conflict. Particular organisations, political conditions and historical periods matter. Buddhist identity, Buddhist nationalism, state violence and resistance must be distinguished, while first-party accounts of peacebuilding establish aims and activities rather than a complete or independently tested national picture.
02 · Establish
Secure what the evidence can establish
Start with the boundary, then attach every claim to its receipt.
- 01 · source fact
The UN fact-finding report documents nationalist and anti-Muslim rhetoric, discrimination and serious violence in Myanmar.
Sources: UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights - 02 · disciplinary interpretation
Nationalist actors used Buddhist identity and threat narratives, but this must not be treated as the necessary teaching or behaviour of Buddhism as a whole.
Sources: UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights - 03 · source fact
Buddhist and interfaith actors have also campaigned for peace, protection and cooperation, showing internal religious contest rather than a single Buddhist response.
Sources: KAICIID · Religions for Peace Myanmar
03 · Test
Challenge the easy version
Use the language carefully, find the tempting errors and inspect the complete evidence trail.
Concepts
discriminationextremismhuman rightsprejudicesocial justiceinterfaith peacebuilding
Misconceptions
01. Buddhism is inherently peaceful so Buddhists cannot be extremists.
02. Buddhism caused every element of the conflict.
03. All Buddhists or all Muslims in Myanmar form one side.
Evidence trail
Open the sources
Test the claims above and notice what each source can — and cannot — show.
- Detailed findings of the independent international fact-finding mission on Myanmar
UN Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights · official international report
Serious conflict evidence; use carefully and do not equate nationalism with Buddhism as a whole. Checked 2026-08-18. - Following attacks on Muslims, Buddhist monk sparks national campaign
KAICIID · interreligious institution
Illustrates a peacebuilding response; not a complete national picture. Checked 2026-08-18. - Religions for Peace Myanmar profile
Religions for Peace Myanmar · first party interfaith
Supports organisational aims and activities; not independent impact evaluation. Checked 2026-08-18. - GCSE Religious Studies Route A specification, Version 4
Eduqas · assessment authority
Controls required content; it is not evidence that every named view is uncontested. Checked 2026-08-18.
04 · Apply
Turn evidence into an answer
Attempt each question in your notes or on paper before opening its indicative guidance.
- 01 · Assessment objective 1 · 2 marks
State two accurate facts about Myanmar: Buddhist nationalism, anti-Muslim intolerance and interfaith resistance.
Indicative guidance
Credit two distinct, source-supported facts. Do not credit an organisation claim as independently verified impact.
- 02 · Assessment objective 1 · 5 marks
Explain how Myanmar: Buddhist nationalism, anti-Muslim intolerance and interfaith resistance connects with discrimination, extremism, human rights, prejudice, social justice, interfaith peacebuilding.
Indicative guidance
Develop at least two accurate case-to-concept links. Naming a concept without explaining the link is insufficient.
- 03 · source_analysis · 4 marks
What can one source in this fact file establish, and what can it not establish on its own?
Indicative guidance
Identify the source and type, make one supported utility point and one precise limitation. Generic claims that a source is biased earn no credit without explanation.
- 04 · Assessment objective 2 · 15 marks
'Religious leaders have a greater duty than governments to oppose extremism.' Evaluate this statement.
Indicative guidance
Use the case accurately as evidence, test more than one perspective and reach a justified conclusion. Case knowledge is evidence, not a substitute for reasoning.
Guidance is indicative, not an official mark scheme. This page does not collect or save answers.