This book is concerned with three major issues in the relationship between the frontier peoples and the modern Union of Myanmar: the awakening of a sense of national identity among the frontier peoples of Myanmar and their nationalist movement; main factors driving the minorities to merge with Burmans to form a federal union; and the role of the British government in this the interlinked history of Burma Proper and the ethnic minorities.

Chapters 1–3 present an overall account of the historical evolution, geographical distribution and colonial experiences of the frontier peoples in 1824–1945. This provides the backdrop to and context for the rise of political awareness in general and a sense of national identity in particular among this population in 1945–1948, which are examined in Chapters 4–6. Key topics include their political coming of age following the end of WWII, the Panglong Conference, the 1947 Constitution and Myanmar's independence in 1948. Chapter 7 considers a number of critical issues, including the complex dynamics of nationalism, Aung San's thought and policy on ethnic minorities and Britain's role in Myanmar's pursuit of independence.