Dan Slater, WCED director and professor of political science, was quoted in a Washington Post article about the decision by Myanmar's military junta to release 5,600 political prisoners. Slater argues that this move is meant to draw some positive attention for the military, “but unless and until the military releases Myanmar’s rightfully elected political leadership and returns to its own original power-sharing process, the fundamental conditions on the ground will not change or improve." Read the full article here

Dan Slater is director of the Weiser Center for Emerging Democracies and professor of political science at the University of Michigan. He specializes in the politics and history of enduring dictatorships and emerging democracies, with a regional focus on Southeast Asia. His research interests include comparative politics, international relations, world politics, and methodology.