ASEAN Pol Struc Flashcards
Authoritarian Success at stability (IND)
Suharto New Order (1966-1998)
violent oppression of PKI - 500k to 1 million killed
1975 East Timor annexation - 200k killed + Free Aceh repression
CA: eventually people became aware of military abuse and support eroded
Authoritarian success at stability (TH)
Economic crisis during democracy 73-76 > oil prices 4x and fears of commie motivated labour unrests
October 1976 Thammasat University Massacre
Martial Law declared + maximum govt + obsessive anti-communism policies
Public apathetic - acquiescing in authority and approved the stability that followed
Authoritarian economic success (TH)
Thailand under Sarit (1958-1963) article 17, PM, commander of armed forces
most authoritarian military regime in Thai history
marrtial law, closed parliament, political parties, shut down trade unions
public appearance of king
economic reforms under NEB - emphasis on US aid - 7-8% annual growth rates
CA: Ironically success = fall when Thanom took over cuz bigger middle class and students - protests against corruption and economic mismanagement - forced to resign in 1973
Authoritarian economic success (Indonesia)
Suharto New Order
emphasis on economic growth, reversed anti-West position > inflows of capital and tech > poverty decrease from 60% to 15%
CA: Economic growth spawned corruption - large conglomerates accumulate wealth through connections in the regime
By 1980s Suharto directly handed over assets to favoured elites > May 1998 riots in Jakarta > Habibie to power
Authoritarian economic failure (Burma)
Ne Win 1962-1988 military coup
arrest civilian government and suspend constituion
one party rule under Burma Socialist Program Plan (BSPP) - focus on self-suffiency and isolation > economy in shambles, rice went from 2mil to 200k tonnes + all time high debt
8888 uprising by students forced Ne Win to resign
Authoritarian economic failure (Philippines)
Marcos New Society fail
curtail press freedom and arrest of prominent rivals
threatening persecuting even murdering rivals
Benigno Aquino 1983
Crippling corruption let debts run to 77%
Richest in Asia to poorest in SEA
tried to rig elections again in 1986 - failed - Corazon Aquino to power amidst People Power protests
Singapore success
1960 Internal Security Act (ISA) used in
1971: arrest 4 senior executives at Nanyang Siang Pau for purposely stirring up Chinese racial sentiments
1987 Operation Spectrum - detain and arrest any Commie suspect
BUT democratic processes:
1985 Feedback Unit
Asian Tiger
PAP dominant
Malaysia success
1960 Internal Security Act - detention without trial or charges allowed under circumstances
1960-1993: more than 9k detained
May 13 1969 ISA arrest more than 110 people during racial riots - communal stability - banned any publications that incited racial feelings
Democratic features - opposition allowed in elections, multiparty parliament
Constitutional processes (fair elections)/Democracy failure IND
Constitutional processes under Sukarno liberal democracy
attempt at liberal democracy but ppl couldnt understand (IND context)
Free and fair elections > political deadlock between Nationalists, Communists, Islamists as all could not get enough support
General cost of living increased 100% 1950-1957
ppl think centralised authority is better
Constitutional processes/Democracy Failure (Burma)
Civil strife due to overly and numerous ethnic political parties
1947 Constitution of the Union of Burma - quasi-federal union with centralised government that attempted to acknowledged country’s plural character
Eventually unable to deliver > ethnic minorities enraged > eg. Sawbwas autonomy taken away in 1958, secession in 1959 > even in U Nu secord term in 1960-62: minority rebels controlled more than 10% of country
CA: constitutional process less important when Ne Win took over in 1962 and constitutional dictactorship 1974-1988 to give legitimacy at own whims
Constitutional proceses in Vietnam (good)
Enabled communist states to have ultimate power for control
Communist supremacy over all affairs in state (Sec-Gen most power
1980 constitution > national assembly - supreme representative body to make laws and to amend the constitution
1992 constitutional change > retained authority of the party but institutionalised Doi Moi market policies & to maintain friendly relations with all states instead of old enemy lines of CW
CA: altered by VCP whenever they see fit
Eighth Congress in June 1996 saw the VCP unequivocally reassert its authority over all aspects of the country’s life - retained monopoly of political power and disregarded demands for political pluralism
People power
Philipines (people power) Marcos repeat his overthrowing in 1986
legacy of high literacy rates and long experience with democratic politics - vibrant and sophisticated to challenge Marcos
triggered by blatant abuse of power
shift in political dynamic - masses in democracy
social upheaval > negative political stability > lack of unified national pol party and stable administration
Indonesia against Suharto (May 1998) riots in Jakarta
Change to democracy
military role disregarded as they turned aginst him
soical unrest reinforcing political stability by overthrowing corrupt govt >democracy
Burma debt all time high in 1980s, rice production down to 200k from 2mil + Benigno Aquino murder 1983 > 8888 Uprising > Ne Win resign
CA: NLD 1990 victory declined > Saw Maung coup Sep 18 > SLORC military rule till 2011
Indonesia Golkar (facade of democracy)
bureaucratic tentacles linking states to all levels of society core of Golkar as govt political party
Elections in 1971, then every 5 years from 1977
Suharto full control of electorial process
political parties ordered to support Suharto’s nomination for president + political schemes (Golkar)
Cold War context
Thailand: surge in US demand due to Korean War 1950s
strong anti-communist rule > US aid since TH relatively stable compared to other SEA countries > SEATO founding member > pouring US aid
