Academic Communities as ‘Liminal Safe Spaces’: Reflections on Academia's Role in Myanmar's Peacebuilding

The role of academics who remain professionally active in Myanmar is often overlooked compared to the role of the Civil Disobedience Movement (CDM). By focusing on how academics maintained academic communities and international connectivity, this research aims to explore how academics position themselves amidst political pressure. Two concepts employed as frameworks are liminal agency in peacebuilding and safe discursive space. To attain data on the position and practices of academic communities in Myanmar, a qualitative method is applied by conducting interviews, group discussions, and a 3-month direct and indirect observation. This research argues that academics can function as a liminal agency and create a safe space for peaceful communication, as findings show that, despite their uncritical stance, academics play the role of a liminal agency. This position allows peace communications to emerge in the unconventional and subtle form of academic discourse.