Pol Struc Flashcards
Max govt coercion
Indonesia under Sukarno guided democracy - regional rebellions that erupted in Sumatra and other parts of the Outer Islands from 1956-58, allowing some regional commanders to declare an alternative Revolutionary Government in 1957, the PRRI. Communists under the PKI increasingly rampant - 30 Sept 1965 Gestapu affair killing 6 high ranking military officials. Suharto’s resulting overthrow of Sukarno later restored social and political stability, brutally suppressing communists, killing an estimated 500,000 to 1 million people. Harsh measures to crush secessions - 1975 East Timor annexation that killed 200,000 and strongly repressed Free Aceh Movement
CA: Over time, people became increasingly aware of the army’s excessive abuse in the regions, and support for the authoritarian regime gradually eroded, criticism even arose among some of the regime’s supporters. military double edged sword since long term suppression for e.g. East Timor, Irian Jaya and Aceh led to increasing criticism and reinforced resentment/perception in outer islands of Javanese unfair dominance, suppression of PDI in 1990s only increased Megawati’s popularity as symbol of democratic opposition
Thailand’s short lived democratic experiment 1973-1976 was plagued with an economic crisis where oil prices quadrupled due to the oil crisis of 1973 and labour unrest was severe. October 1976 Thammasat University Massacre: The military forcefully quelled the masses and the chaos was used to justify a military coup Martial law declared + instituted a maximum government in its place Political parties were banned, the previous constitution overturned, and the military government pursued a policy of obsessive anti-communism in the name of preserving national security. General public remained apathetic, acquiescing in authority and approving the stability that followed
CA: Black May 1992 led to maximum government being overthrown for democracy as Anand took over
Max govt brought economic propsperity + US aid
Thailand under Sarit - most authoritarian military regime in modern Thai history - martial law, closed parliament and political parties, and shut down trade unions. 1952 Anti-Communist Law and his economic reforms under National Economic Development board placed emphasis on education and private businesses, and wooed foreign investors and attracted US aid allowed Thailand to experience 7-8% annual growth rates throughout the 1960s and early 70s
CA: Ironically this successful economic policy saw the fall of authoritarianism in Thailand under Thanom. The larger middle class and student body as a result of the reforms protested in response to perceived corruption and economic mismanagement. Eventually Thanom was forced to resign in 1973, and new elections were called
Indonesia Suharto New Order placed much emphasis on economic growth and reversed anti-West position and renewed ties with the US, facilitating inflow of capital and technological transfers from Western countries. Such policies developed the Indonesian economy greatly, with poverty dropping from 60% to 15% of the population. The discovery of large oil and gas reserves 🠞 high revenue, provided the regime with a large autonomous financing basis. Flexible in dealing with economic challenges (EG mid-80’s oil crisis)
CA: Economic growth spawned corruption – an elaborate structure of patronage from huge oil and gas revenues that helped and sustained the regime ● Large conglomerates owed much of their wealth to their connections to the regime ● By the late 1980s, Suharto was directly handing over state assets, state-owned companies to his favoured business elites. Culminated in May 1998 riots in Jakarta where students and urban poor protested against inflation, corruption and collusion, leading to Suharto’s resignation in 1998 to Habibie
Max govt fail to political stability
Philippines - Coercion under Marcos’ New Society ultimately led to his fall. The curtailing of press freedom and arrests of prominent opponents of Marcos were used as measures to coerce the masses into compliance. Vocal critics were harassed, persecuted or even killed. Benigno Aquino’s murder in 1983 is an example of such. However, total economic failure saw that external debts rose to 77% of GDP and the Philippines fell from being one of the richest countries in Asia to one of the poorest in SEA under Marcos. Further attempts to salvage the situation by rigging elections in 1986 were ineffective in quelling public protests caused by Aquino’s murder, and Marcos was eventually removed from power during the People Power Protest in the same year.
CA: Reformed Armed Forces movement (RAM) in 1982 group of young officers launching a campaign against corruption in the military. It was this group along with Min of Def and AFP Vice Chief of Staff that spearheaded the 1986 Feb mutiny that sparked off the People Power’s protests. Armed forces played a key role in initiating moves to topple Marcos, and lack of armed forces support was key in toppling Marcos
Indonesia - Over time, people became increasingly aware of the army’s excessive abuse in the regions, and support for the authoritarian regime gradually eroded, criticism even arose among some of the regime’s supporters. military double edged sword since long term suppression for e.g. East Timor, Irian Jaya and Aceh led to increasing criticism and reinforced resentment/perception in outer islands of Javanese unfair dominance, suppression of PDI in 1990s only increased Megawati’s popularity as symbol of democratic opposition
CA: Head of army General Wiranto refused to act against demonstrations and forced Suharto to resign
Mix of democratic and max
Singapore multiparty parliament since 1984. Has Non-Constituency Member of Parliament (NCMP) to allow minority voices to be heard. 1985 Feedback Unit allowed people’s voices to be heard about government policies. 1988 GRCs established such that electoral divisions had at least one minority race ensuring minorities are represented.
CA: Gerrymandering as PAP controls when and where electoral boundaries change, often right before elections. GRCs are also manipulated such that opposition parties would be merged into larger GRCs eg Joo Chiat GRC merged with Marine Parade after close contest. Means opposition has to keep rebuilding support in new areas.
Malaysia elections every 5 years and ruling coalition comprises of multiple parties. Opposition can and do win major urban areas. Example of opposition victory in 2018 where Pakatan Harapan victory ended Barisan Nasionalis 61 year rule
CA: However still used ISA 1960 to arrest people - over 9000 from 1960-1993
Mahathir has also abused constitution amendments in 1988 to divest courts of judicial power due to challenges to his position
Fair elections failing
Indonesia democratic constitution adopted in 1950 but only held elections in 1955, and by then already had been 5 different cabinets and political factions split along deep ideological lines. Difficulty in ensuring smooth political and policy continuities. 1955 elections saw political deadlock between nationalists, communists and Muslims as none had a majority to form government. In the end Sukarno reinstated 1945 constitution and consolidated executive powers on himself. Suharto later also changed processes via reconsolidated opposition parties to control them
Burma 1947 Constitution of Union of Burma was a quasi-federal union that acknowledged the country’s plural character. Ethnic states were represented in cabinet and allowed to secede after 10 years. However later backtracked on promise which angered the ethnic minorities which took to armed movements. Example Shan State Army 1964
Caused Ne Win to stage a coup and take over in 1962 with the military. Put ethnic leaders under arrest
Communist states political structure and military use
Vietnam and Laos power concentrated in politburo and central committee.
Laos use military to snuff out Hmong rebellions led by general Vang Pao. Used military on Hmong civilians hiding out in Lima states from US involvement like LS-32
Vietnam also use military to maintain order against the hill tribes and the Hoa.
Mix of ideological with military power allowed them to maintain political stability. Continuity of power is shown despite 1986 reforms that liberalised the economy. 1996 saw both states take back all the power they gave out due to “Gorbachev phobia”, fearing the same fate as the dissolution of the USSR.
US aid for Communist fighting
Thailand Phibun 1952 Anti-Communist Law. US saw Thailand as powerful and stable. Against backdrop of rupture of US-Soviet relations and fall of China to Communism, saw Thailand become founding member of SEATO in 1954
Indonesia Suharto violent action against PKI killing 500k to 1 million also allowed 7-8% economic growth rates due to assistance from US
Vietnam disregard of Constitutional Processes
Affords communist party to have supremacy over affairs of the state with the SecGen having most political power. 1992 constitution change retained authority of the party but liberalised markets with Doi Moi. Later disregarded constitutional processes whenever seen fit. 1996 Eighth Congress of the VCP saw the VCP reassert absolute authority over political and social spheres, and retain monopoly over political power.
Masses
Philippines - legacy of high literacy rates and had a long experience with democratic politics. Filipino society was vibrant and sophisticated to challenge Marcos politically. Students, opposing politicians, and the Catholic Church were focal points and leaders of the opposition, which emerged in the mass movement of People’s Power protests. What provoked opposition was not so much poor performance or economic decline, but the blatant abuses of power seen in the form of corruption and political violence. Eventually Marcos was overthrown in 1986.
CS2: Burma - In the 1980s, debt was at an all time high; production of rice dropped from 2 million tonnes in 1947 to 200k tonnes in the 1980s ○ Culminated in the 8888 Uprising (8 August 1988), where students called a strike and forced Ne Win to resign; Demonstrations that started in Rangoon broadened to include Buddhist monks, professional classes and other cities.
CA: Military took up brutal actions against the masses killing thousands of protestors, and managed to reconsolidate power in August 1988 and announced elections to be held in 1990. The armed forces led by General Saw Muang seized power on Sep 18 with a coup and established the State Law and Order Restoration Council (SLORC). Ne Win, though retired, was believed to control and influence new leaders including Saw Muang. Military rule in Burma continued to rule for another 21 years until 30 March 2011.
