Paper 2 - The Making of Independent SEA. Success/failures of democracy

Question 1

Successes of Indonesia

Answer 1

Became ‘ripe’ for democracy in 1998 when university student protests grew, which turned into mass movements. This readiness was due to three decades of high economic growth and state resources being pumped into raising educational levels, which saw the rapid expansion of an Indonesia middle class that was fairly large and well educated by 1998.

Factors:

1. increasing vocality of a civil society and growing presence of an educated middle class)
2. People’s power

Question 2

Successes of Philippines

Answer 2

1. Marcos lifted martial law in 1981 and attempted to bolster his legitimacy through democratic mechanisms, allowing the opposition to run under the people power in 1986. He rigged the elections and his KBL regime won 54% of the votes. The People Power revolution thus spread, with thousands taking to the streets demanding Marcos’ departure. He was then replaced by Corazon Aquino, and the 1987-88 elections saw the return of political leaders and clans of the pre-authoritarian period.

Factors:

1. Authoritarian regimes willing to give more power
2. People’s power
3. The US consistently prepared Filipinos for independence by encouraging their political participation. This experience reinforced Filipino faith in the democratic system and contributed to the persistence of the system.

Factors:
1. Colonial experience and nature of decolonisation

Question 3

Successes of Singapore

Answer 3

1. The incumbent PAP has managed to use constitutional means to weaken oppositions and hinder active civic participation. There is the Internal Security Act which it uses to detain political opponents. There is also the Group Representation Constituencies (GRCs) which is regularly changed b the Prime Minister’s Office just before every election, without the need for Parliamentary approval, to erase any inroads the opposition might have managed to make. Consequently, the PAP is often assured the majority.
   Hence, democracy is sustained and stability and calm are ensured.

Factors:

1. Suitability for ethnically and ideologically diverse region to incorporate different groups.
2. Familiarity and time-tested
3. Ensure international support

Question 4

Successes of Malaysia/Malaya

Answer 4

Britain introduced elections and political reforms like the Member system that afforded the local Malays political and administrative experience. The Alliance Party under the supervision of the British was also established which allowed them to take root and build up a strong foundation.
Pleasant treatment by the British also gave rise to pro-democracy sentiments.

Factors:
1. Colonial experience and nature of decolonisation

Question 5

Failure of Malaysia

Answer 5

Abdul Razak’s powers as the Prime Minister of Malaysia enabled him to invoke emergency powers following the 1969 riots, temporarily dissolving the parliament and consolidating the National operations Council which could then deploy troops to repress mass protests and demonstrations held by university students. This effectively stripped the opposition of their ability to voice protests.
- Democracy failed as democratic features were retained only in structure instead of substance.

Factors:
1. Appeal of soft authoritarian government

Question 6

Failure of Indonesia

Answer 6

It inherited the structures of a police state from the Dutch and the Japanese, with little colonial administrative experience - made democracy unable to take root and eventually switched to Guided Democracy, which is a more authoritarian style of governance. The lack of a heavy hand in politics led to a deadlock over the basic guiding principle of the country. Immature foundations of democracy - having little to no middle class made democracy unviable.

Factors:

1. Context of country - colonial legacy
2. Immature foundations of democracy
3. Ideological division

Under Guided Democracy, the regional rebellions were effectively quelled. Under Suharto’s New Order, secessionist insurgencies in Aceh, East Timor and Irian Jaya were brutally crushed. The regime also developed the Indonesian economy; rapid growth of the manufacturing and agro-industrial export-oriented sectors were also credited to Suharto’s regime.
All these were at the price of individual liberty.

Factors:
1. Appeal of maximum government (in current context of country) - decisiveness and capability to ensure stability

Question 7

Failure of Singapore

Answer 7

Lee Kuan Yew used the Internal Security Acts frequently to remove opposition, such as the arrest of over 100 Barisan Socialis and other left-wing leaders in Operation Coldstore in 1963 over the pretext of removal of communist collaborators.
- Shows failure as democracy is present only in structure rather than substance. Political plurality is absent.

Question 8

Failure of Vietnam

Answer 8

Efforts in Vietnam to install democracy were feeble even with the support of the US. Many South Vietnamese even supported the Communist North by forming the Vietcong and conducting assassinations and terrorism to undermine the US-supported regime. US’s violence towards Vietnam also increased people’s hatred towards democracy.

Monarchical traditions and repressive French rule also meant little exposure to parliamentary democracy. They had a greater propensity to adopt authoritarian governments.

Factors:

1. ) context of country - lack exposure to democracy
2. ) Colonial legacy - experience with French and US