02/13/2026
By Myat Su Tin

The Global Studies Program at the University of Massachusetts Lowell invites you to attend a Ph.D. Research Proposal Defense by Myat Su Tin entitled: “Digital Narratives, Framing, and Public Engagement under Authoritarian Rule: Evidence from Myanmar’s Post-Coup Conflict.”

Date: Thursday, March 5, 2026
Time: 1–3 p.m. EST
Location: Dugan Hall, Room 105 (South Campus)

Dissertation Committee:

  • Ardeth Maung Thawnghmung (Advisor), Political Science , UMass Lowell
  • Jenifer M. Whitten-Woodring, Honors College & Political Science, UMass Lowell
  • Minnie Minhyung Joo, Political Science, UMass Lowell
  • Jason Rydberg, School of Criminology and Justice Studies, UMass Lowell

Abstract

This dissertation examines how digital engagement functions as a form of political interpretation and legitimacy negotiation in Myanmar’s post-coup authoritarian conflict. In a context where offline protest is highly risky, social media actions such as reacting, commenting, and sharing become observable indicators of how individuals process power, resistance, and uncertainty. The project introduces the Digital Resistance Interaction Framework (DRIF) to explain how conflict-related events generate attention shocks, how different media ecosystems frame these events, and how audiences respond emotionally and cognitively under repression. Using a multi-method design, the first two studies analyze large-scale Facebook data to examine engagement patterns surrounding military territorial control and regime-led elections across regime-aligned, exile-based, and international media. The third study employs a vignette-based survey experiment to identify how narratives of violent and nonviolent resistance shape emotional responses, perceived legitimacy, and participation intentions. All the findings are aimed to contribute to broader debates on digital resistance, authoritarian resilience, and the mediated construction of political authority in contemporary conflict settings.

All interested students and faculty members are invited to attend.