1st Edition
Democracy in Eastern Asia Issues, Problems and Challenges in a Region of Diversity
With the ‘Asian Century’ now upon us, bringing with it many profound economic and political changes to the world order, it is very timely to assess the state of democracy in the Asian region. Focusing on Eastern Asia, this book provides such a review, highlighting lines of connections between the states and peoples of this complex and dynamic region.
Featuring chapters on China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Myanmar, this book provides a detailed analysis of the state of democracy in each country or territory, and shows how each is different and distinctive, whilst simultaneously drawing out important similarities. Further, it provides up to date analysis of political changes in the region relating to the processes of democratization, and, in some cases, to the ongoing quest for democracy. Critically examining the current state of political development in the region, the chapters explore the issues and problems that challenge the region’s governments in terms of democratic transition, democratic consolidation, democratic improvement and good governance.
With contributions from leading international scholars, this book will be of great interest to students and scholars interested in Asian politics, and politics and democratization studies more broadly.
Introduction, Edmund S. K. Fung and Steven Drakeley Part I: Improving Liberal Democracies 1. Democracy in Japan: National, Subnational and Grassroots Perspectives, Purnendra Jain 2. South Korea’s Disaffected Democracy, Chong-Min Park 3. Regime Transition to Liberal Democracy: The Case of Taiwan, Chung-li Wu Part II: Towards Democratic Consolidation 4. Consolidation of a Low-quality Democracy: Two Cheers for Indonesia, Steven Drakeley 5. Thai Democracy at a Dangerous Crossroads, Pavin Chachavalpongpun 6. The Limits of Post-Plunder Reform in the Philippines’ Oligarchic Democracy, Nathan Gilbert Quimpo 7. Developments in Cambodian Democracy: Democratic Consolidation or Authoritarian Durability?, Melissa Curley Part III: Democratisation under Hegemonic Party Regimes 8. Democracy and Change in Malaysia: When Do Authoritarian Controls Backfire?, William Case 9. Democratization and Embracing Uncertainty in Post-2011 Singapore, Netina Tan Part IV: Uncertain Transitions to Democracy 10. The Democratic Transition in Myanmar: Will the Reforms be Sustained?, Helen James 11. Democratization in Hong Kong: A Theoretical Exception, Joseph Cheng 12. The Quest for Constitutional Democracy in Contemporary China, Feng Chongyi
Biography
Edmund S. K. Fung is Professor of Asian Studies at the University of Western Sydney and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities.
Steven Drakeley is a Senior Lecturer in Asian and Islamic Studies and a member of the Religious Studies Research Centre at the University of Western Sydney, Australia.
