Asian Journal of Sociological Research

This study interrogates Myanmar's economic diplomacy through documentary analysis and interviews, mapping how strategic engagement evolved from international reintegration to crisis-driven adaptation. The primary research method for this study is document-based analysis. The qualitative approach is central to this study. Framed through the lens of diplomatic frontiers, the study examines how successive governments leveraged economic statecraft to navigate the dual imperatives of international reintegration and domestic transformation. This qualitative study examines Myanmar's economic diplomacy through documentary analysis and interviews, tracing the evolution of strategic engagement from international reintegration to crisis-driven adaptation. To get key findings, using documentary analysis, drawing on archival research, interviews, and secondary data, the article identifies three critical frontiers that shaped Myanmar’s economic diplomacy: (1) the transition from sanctions to investment, (2) the geopolitical hedging space, and (3) the institutional capacity threshold. While setbacks remain, the study underscores Myanmar’s enduring potential as a small state with strategic agency, rich cultural capital, and a resilient population, particularly its youth, who remain committed to reform and inclusive growth. By situating Myanmar within broader debates on small-state diplomacy and transitional governance, this article offers a nuanced account of how economic engagement can serve as both a catalyst and a constraint in political environments.