Final answer:
Burma (Myanmar) is the Southeast Asian country that was known for exemplary healthcare and literacy rates, but is now among the world's most repressive nations. The country suffers from a stagnant economy under military control, with pronounced human rights abuses and an economy tied to the opium trade.
Step-by-step explanation:
The country in Southeast Asia that was once known to have one of the best healthcare systems, high literacy rates, and an efficient civil service but is now considered one of the world's most repressive places to live is Burma, also known as Myanmar. From 1974 to 1988, Burma was ruled by the Burma Socialist Program Party, which led the country into isolation while the rest of the world experienced significant advancements in technology and economic development, especially in healthcare and education.
Despite its rich cultural background and diversity, as highlighted in the southeast Asian context, Burma has seen its economy languish under military control, with the government taking over major income-generating enterprises. This is further exacerbated by the increase in opium production in the Golden Triangle region, as well as serious human rights violations that have received little international response. The contrast is stark when compared to the market-oriented economic reforms and improvements in the standard of living seen in other parts of the world.
Today, Burma's situation is often equated with that of North Korea and Somalia in terms of its authoritarian regime, lack of human rights, and stagnant economy, making it imperative for the country to focus on basics such as health and education for human capital development.