The Grimshaw Review of International Affairs Vol. 2, No. 1 symbolic measures such as excluding junta leader Min Aung Hlaing from key summits have failed to produce substantive change (International Crisis Group, 2021, p. 2). Engagement from broader international groupings such as the G7, the Quad, and the UN Security Council has noticeably declined. While these bodies have expressed rhetorical support, they have provided minimal concrete assistance to ASEAN or to broader accountability efforts, with many governments deprioritising the crisis due to its perceived limited strategic relevance to their national interests (International Crisis Group, 2021, p. 12-14). Meanwhile, proposals to strengthen internal resistance to the regime remain unfeasible without serious external investment. As Walker (2024) notes, any effort to dislodge the junta would require substantial international funding, training, and military support – assistance that is unlikely to materialise, particularly given regional actors like Thailand and India are actively increasing engagement with Myanmar’s military leadership. Simultaneously, with Myanmar’s gradual descent into state failure, civil society groups and aid organisations face a complex dilemma: how to deliver large-scale assistance without inadvertently legitimising the military regime or endangering recipients to harm (International Crisis Group, 2021, p. 2, 15). Despite these setbacks, the international community has not been entirely passive. There have been condemnations made by the United States, Canada, and Norway, alongside humanitarian organisations such as Human Rights Watch, the Arakan Project, and Amnesty International, calling for accountability and greater support for Rohingya refugees, especially in Bangladesh (Ismail & Dolan-Evans, 2017; Albert & Maizland, 2020). However, their impact remains constrained by deeply entrenched political and social biases within Myanmar. As noted by journalist Francis Wade (2017), until Myanmar confronts its “culture of pervasive prejudice” and treats the Rohingya as equals, any progress in resolving the crisis will be limited. Thus, given the reluctance of Myanmar’s government, there is a need for the international community to find sustainable solutions to address both immediate humanitarian needs and the structural causes of the Rohingya’s persecution. Without legal recognition, protection, and a safe path to citizenship, the Rohingya risk remaining a forgotten people. 3.​ Rationale and Research Question 9