"In 2012, Barack Obama became the first U.S. president ever to visit Myanmar, formerly known as Burma. This official state visit marked a new period in the long and sinuous diplomatic relationship between the United States and Burma/Myanmar, which Kenton Clymer examines in A Delicate Relationship. From the challenges of decolonization and heightened nationalist activities that emerged in the wake of World War II to the Cold War concern with domino states to the rise of human rights policy in the 1980s and beyond, Clymer demonstrates how Burma/Myanmar has fit into the broad patterns of U.S. foreign policy and yet has never been fully integrated into diplomatic efforts in the region of Southeast Asia"

Burmese nationalism and the path to independenceThe leaky derelict -- High treason and the Burma surgeon's trial -- The Kuomintang embarrassment -- China, communists, and other insurgents -- Changing course on the KMT -- The neutrality conundrum -- The China border, a "polite coup," and the return to democratic government -- The hard coup of 1962 -- Ne Win's way to socialism -- The relationship stabilizes -- The narcotics era -- Revolt -- The thaw -- Appendix : list of US ambassadors and chargés d'affaires appointed to Burma.