Beyond Myanmar’s borders: the use of transnational repression and creation of new state spaces within ASEAN

Since Myanmar’s 2021 coup, the military has intensified domestic repression and extended autocratic control to target diaspora communities. This paper explores the regime’s transnational repression strategies and examines the role of host states in enabling or resisting these tactics. While democratic countries offer relative protection, some ASEAN states facilitate repression through cooperation and deportations, demonstrating how geopolitical alignments, proximity and economic interests shape the prevalence and nature of transnational repression. Situating Myanmar’s case in the broader global context, this study argues that the junta’s actions reflect a growing phenomenon in which repressive regimes construct “new state spaces” in foreign territories, not only suppressing opposition but also challenge conventional understandings of sovereignty and human rights protections.