Michael Martin

Adjunct Fellow (Non-resident), Southeast Asia Program
Michael Martin

Michael Martin has had an illustrious career of more than 30 years focusing on political and economic developments in Asia, especially in Burma (Myanmar), Hong Kong, and Vietnam. After receiving his doctorate in economics in 1986 from the University of Massachusetts Amherst, he taught economics at Colby College, Doshisha University, Hong Kong Baptist University, and Tufts University. From 1994 to 1998, he was an assistant chief economist for the Hong Kong Trade Development Council, providing information and analysis on Africa, the Americas, Japan, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia to the Hong Kong business community. From November 2006 to February 2021, he was a specialist in Asian affairs at the Congressional Research Service (CRS), keeping the U.S. Congress informed about the situation in Burma, Hong Kong, and Vietnam. During his career, Dr. Martin has been interviewed live on Asia Business News, Bloomberg, and CNBC. His academic articles have been published in China Quarterly and the Journal of Peasant Studies, among other refereed journals. While at CRS, he wrote numerous reports for Congress on Burma, Hong Kong, Vietnam, and other issues. Dr. Martin has also testified before congressional committees in both the House of Representatives and the Senate concerning the situations in Burma, Hong Kong, and the People’s Republic of China.

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Audio Briefs

Arakan Army Posed to “Liberate” Myanmar’s Rakhine State

An audio version of “Arakan Army Posed to “Liberate” Myanmar’s Rakhine State,” a new commentary by CSIS's Michael Martin. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs.

Podcast Episode by Michael Martin — February 20, 2025

Audio Briefs
Audio Briefs

Update on the Armed Resistance in Myanmar’s Kachin State

An audio version of “Update on the Armed Resistance in Myanmar’s Kachin State,” a new commentary by CSIS’s Michael Martin. This audio was generated with text-to-speech by Eleven Labs. 

Podcast Episode by Michael Martin — July 23, 2024

Audio Briefs

Update on the Armed Resistance in Myanmar’s Kachin State

The armed struggle against Myanmar’s military junta, the State Administrative Council (SAC), has been underway for more than three years. In Kachin State, the armed group leading the fight is the Kachin Independence Army, or KIA.

Commentary by Michael Martin — July 17, 2024

Myanmar’s Governance Challenges

Reports of the liberation of villages, towns, and township communities in Myanmar creates a serious challenge: how will these newly liberated communities be governed?

Commentary by Michael Martin — March 1, 2024

New Stage for the Military Conflict in Myanmar?

The military conflict in Myanmar entered a new stage over the last month, one that may portend the future collapse of the country’s military and its nominal government, the State Administrative Council.

Commentary by Michael Martin — December 14, 2023