GIGW-C7: Democratization §

Class: IS402 Created Time: November 17, 2021 7:11 AM Database: Class Notes Database Last Edited Time: March 20, 2022 10:56 PM Type: Presentation Notes

• Democratization in Asian region

Introduction §

• The quality of democracy in Asia is growing in different rates
  • Hong Kong & Taiwan vs Cambodia & Thailand

Mapping of Democracy in Asia §

History of Asia democratization process

• Divided Asia into 3 Sub-Regions: due to geographical, cultural similarities in each region
  • South-East Asia
  • South Asia
  • East Asia
• 1974: only 4 countries in Asia are electoral democracies (6%)
• 2002: progress increased democratization to 40%

  • the degree of democracy is still uncertain and unconsolidated regime

    • failed or unstable democracy

    • full of problems: violation of rule of law, corruptions

    💡 Ex: 1990s’ Cambodia election → 1997 Coup by Rannarith

  • Some are actual electoral democracies such as Japan, South Korea

Different Types and Trends of Defective Democracy §

• Defective Democracy: liberal/semi-liberal democracy practice autocratic actions
• Looking at trends of defective democracies in these 3 regions of Asia
  • Even though Asia goes through democracy, there are steps backwards due to trends of bad democracy practice

South Asia §

• Nepal: revolutionary war supported by the people. 2001 massacre of royal family.
• Bangladesh: severe polarization lead to political violence.
• Pakistan: strong military role in politics of the country.
  • democratically elected positions are governed without constitutional power?
  • Islamist movements, freedom of worship

South East Asia §

• Cambodia: UNTAC 1993 election. 1997 Coup armed struggle. CPP victory → have role in election. underhand methods by the party
• Indonesia:

North-East Asia §

• South Korea
• Taiwan

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Types of Democracy §

• Autocracy: Cambodia, Nepal, Pakistan
• Exclusive
• Illliberal
• Delegative
• Enclave

Causes of Defective Democracy §

There’s no single primary cause but multiple

Socio-economic determinants §

• Economic prosperity and political freedom

  💡 Outliers Cases: Brunei & Singapore

• Socio-economic challenges are defects for democracy

• High GDP per capita ≠ doesn’t always mean better political freedom

Cultural and historical legacies §

• Political culture and legacies of colonialism affects the country’s possibility of democracy

  • indoctrination: left over blueprints for political structure

• Asian Values: of sovereignty first and wariness of the west (because colonization)

  💡 Most Ex British colonies didn’t adopt liberal democracy

  • Limited sample makes the correlation uncertain

Stateness and nation-building §

• Territories
• Authority
• National Unity

Political institution §

• Presidentialism is claimed to be detrimental to the consolidation of liberal constitutionalism
• It’s hard to determine what works best, we have to look at the broader institutional framework
• Strength, types, of leaders, legislative power vested to president, veto players, …

The Future of Democratization Process in Asia §

• Positive
  • Ending of communism and socialist revolution mark as no death threats toward democracy
  • Militay elites doesn’t get any further support from the west
  • Citizens are not willing to go back under authoritarian regime again
• Negative
  • That will be difficult for those South and Southeast Asia to shift toward liberal democracy if economic prosperity, distribution of wealth and social power resources as well as stateness are the real causes of defective democracy
  • If these problems still persist, most Asia countries are unlikely to democratize.

Case Study: Indonesia transition to democracy §

• Problems that affect democratization process in Indonesia

Transition to Democracy §

• The 3 most recent presidents are elected democratically instead of authoritarian
• During Suharto’s authoritarian the quality of life and prosperity is much better than the recent presidents
  • But during Suharto there were corruption, no political freedom, and many drawbacks that are glossed over

Types of Democracies in Indonesia §

1. Constitutional Democracy (1949-57)
2. Guide Democracy (1959-65)
3. Pancasila Democracy (1966-88)

Four Phases of Democratization Process §

• Demand for ‘Reformasi’ is demand for change of the entire political system
  • free speech, non-violent competition, political party, free and honest election

Phases of transition from authoritarian to democracy

1. Pre-transition phase: 1997 - detention and disapparences of political activist against government.
   • Public Protests & shooting of 4 protesting students → Suharto resigned
2. Liberalization phase: students demand reform on institutional system.
   • Eradication of Corruption, Collusion, C
   • Release of political freedom
   • democratic election was held 1955
3. Democratic transition:
   • Paradox of democratic transition: president has to consider groups that play big roles in politics
4. Democratic consolidation: take place and exist in theory
   • Political elites struggle for political title and positions → democratization is put on hold
   • Failure to push forward process of democratization
   • Crisis of leadership and weak government
   • Economic and security problems: inability to rid of terrorist groups
   • Moral, political, strategic dilemma after the terrorist attack
     • Authoritarian practice → distrust from citizens
   • Tendency of old status quo