Type of Credit: Elective
Credit(s)
Number of Students
Important notes:
The course “Politics in Southeast Asia: Change and Continuity” is designed as an introductory course providing an overview of political development (as well as political stagnation) in the multifaceted region. Southeast Asia/ASEAN region is a dynamic region which in the past decades has undergone transformation pertaining to state-building, democratization, national identity/ identity-politics, uneven development and elite capture. This course ultimately is relevant to Taiwan’s foreign policy initiative, the New Southbound Policy, which seeks to understand and foster deeper cooperation with countries to the South of Taiwan, such as the Southeast Asian/ASEAN countries. The course takes the example of East Asian democracies such as Taiwan and Japan to seek ways of how Southeast Asia may learn from their democratic experiences. The course also observers how China became an autocratizing factor for some Southeast Asian states, such as Cambodia, whose economy is dependent on China. mHow do we understand the socio-political dynamics of the region? What are the change and continuities pertaining to the modes of government and international relations? Are there instances in which democracy experiences a roll-back due to the persistence of authoritarianism in the region? This course is based on the theories of political and social change and seeks to identify commonalities and differences between ASEAN’s ten member states. In order to facilitate the comparative study of the region, the course is primarily organized around key political concepts, such as nationalism, colonialism, democracy, elections, patronage, corruption, civil society, identity and ethno-religious conflicts. Students will become familiar with these key concepts and able to analyze the role of such concepts in the political transformation and stagnation in Southeast Asia through reading, watching news clips and accessing other materials.
Several lectures are also designed to provide a more thorough examination of politics and society in individual countries which shows different political and institutional trajectories, such as Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Myanmar, the Philippines, Cambodia and Vietnam. While the course encompasses the whole Southeast Asia, special attention will be given to the above countries because for their divergent political (and democratic) trajectories.
能力項目說明
Democracy/democratization is a key concept in this course. In the post-cold war period, the Southeast Asian region has witnessed at least three democratic milestones: first, in 1986, when the People Power Revolution in the Philippines led to the toppling of the Marcos regime and the rise of a new democratic government under Cory Aquino. Second, in 1998, when the resignation of Indonesia’s Former President Soeharto ended the 3 decade-long authoritarian government and ushered in the reformasi period which introduced direct elections and decentralization. Third, in 2015 when Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) party rode a popular wave into a sweeping victory in Myanmar’s parliamentary election. Despite these achievements, various challenges in the recent years continue to curb democracy and democratization in the region, one which is the recent democratic roll-back in Myanmar in the form of a military coup.
The course will provide a foundation for students to understand key socio-political dynamics of contemporary Southeast Asia. By the end of the course, students will be familiar with the basic outlines of contemporary politics and society in Southeast Asian countries. Students will also learn the role of historical trajectories of Southeast Asian states in order to determine their impact in the shaping of recent events. The course is designed therefore to allow students to: firstly, gain conceptual understanding of the change and continuities pertaining to the politics of Southeast Asia; secondly, discuss the case studies and reading materials in light of the key concepts; lastly, be able to identify commonalities and differences across different countries in the regions with regard to various socio-political developments.
| 教學週次Course Week | 彈性補充教學週次Flexible Supplemental Instruction Week | 彈性補充教學類別Flexible Supplemental Instruction Type |
|---|---|---|
|
Week |
Topic |
Content and Reading Assignment |
Teaching Activities and Homework |
|
1 |
Introduction
2/22 |
Syllabus Evaluation Criteria Class Regulations |
Introduction of syllabus and regulations Students choose the 6 (six) weeks in which they want to submit their individual essays. No Homework |
|
2 |
Colonialism and Nationalism 2/29 |
The session investigates the influence of colonialism on the contemporary Southeast Asian countries. Where are the differences between various colonial policies in the region? How did different forms of nationalism emerge against colonial rule? Required Readings Sidel, John T. 2012. “The Fate of Nationalism in the New States: Southeast Asia in Comparative Historical Perspective”, Comparative Studies in History and Society 54(1): 114-144. Further Readings Booth, Anne, 2007. Colonial Legacies: Economic and Social Development in East and Southeast Asia, Honolulu HI: University of Hawai’i Press. Bertrand, Jacques. 2013. Political Change in Southeast Asia. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press [Chapter 1 “Understanding Political Change in Southeast Asia”, pp. 1-17]. |
|
|
3 |
Socio-political turmoil 3/7 |
The session discusses the impact of social movements and contentious politics to socio-political change in Southeast Asia, as well as how it influences the notions of democracy, authoritarianism and populism. The session also compares with the experiences of East Asian countries such as Japan, Taiwan and South Korea. Required Readings Slater, Dan, 2009. “Revolutions, Crackdowns, and Quiescence: Communal Elites and Democratic Mobilization in Southeast Asia”, American Journal of Sociology 115(1): 203-254. Further Readings Fukuoka, Yuki, 2015. “Who Brought Down the Dictator? A Critical Reassessment of So-Called ‘People Power’ Revolutions in the Philippines and Indonesia”, The Pacific Review 28(3): 411-433. Tarrow, Sidney and Charles Tilly, 2007. “Contentious Politics and Social Movements”, in Boix, Carles & Susan C. Stokes, eds., 2007. The Oxford Handbook on Comparative Politics, Oxford: Oxford University Press, pp. 435-460. |
|
|
4 |
Development, Modernization and Institutionalization 3/14
|
The lecture investigates the links between the nature of political regimes, modernization, economic growth and development, to understand the relations between authoritarianism and the developmental state approach. The course also compares with the modernization in East Asia. Required Readings Sinpeng, Aim and Aries A. Arugay, 2015. “The Middle Class and Democracy in Southeast Asia”, in William Case, ed., The Routledge Handbook of Southeast Asian Democratization, London: Routledge, pp. 102-116. Thompson, Mark R. 2010. “Modernization Theory’s Last Redoubt: Modernization and Democratization in East and Southeast Asia,” in Yin-Wah Chu, ed., East Asian Democracies after Twenty Years, London: Routledge, pp. 85-101. Further Readings McKinnon, Katharine, 2018. “What is Development in Southeast Asia and Who Benefits? Progress, Power, and Prosperity”, in McGregor, Andrew, Lisa Law and Fiona Miller, eds., The Routledge Handbook of Southeast Asian Development, Abingdon: Routledge, pp. 14-26. Pepinsky, Thomas B., 2009. Economic Crisis and the Breakdown of Authoritarian Regimes: Indonesia and Malaysia in Comparative Perspective, New York: Cambridge University Press. |
|
|
5 |
(Electoral) Democracy vs Authoritarianism 3/21
|
This session explores different elections and popular suffrage taking place in Southeast Asia. While some elections are relatively free and fair, other merely gives legitimacy to authoritarian regimes. How shall we understand electoral “democracy” in an authoritarian setting? How do we see China’s role in the autocratization of Southeast Asia? Required Readings Morgenbesser, Lee & Thomas B. Pepinsky, 2019. “Elections as Causes of Democratization: Southeast Asia in Comparative Perspective”, Comparative Political Studies 52(1): 3-35. Morgenbesser, Lee, 2016. Behind the Façade: Elections under Authoritarianism in Southeast Asia, Albany NY: SUNY Press (Ch.1) Further Readings Hicken, Allan, 2008. “Developing Democracies in Southeast Asia: Theorizing the Role of Parties and Elections,” in Erik M. Kuhonta, Dan Slater, and Tuong Vu, eds., Southeast Asia in Political Science: Theory, Region, and Qualitative Analysis, Stanford CA: Stanford University Press, pp. 80-101. Simandjuntak, Deasy, 2018. “The State of Democracy in Southeast Asia”, Heinrich Böll Stiftung commentary,19 October, https://th.boell.org/en/2018/10/19/state-democracy-southeast-asia |
|
|
6 |
Civil Society vs Authoritarianism 3/28 |
The session examines the impact of the emergence of “civil society” to democratization in Southeast Asia. What are “civil society”, and which kind of civic associations have been actively pushing for democratization in the region? Are there instances in which “civil society” contribute instead to anti-democratic movement and mobilization of illiberal values? What can Southeast Asian countries learn from East Asian countries such as Taiwan? Required Readings Alagappa, Muthiah, 2004. “Civil Society and Political Change: An Analytical Framework”, in Muthiah Alagappa, ed., Civil Society and Political Change in Asia: Expanding and Contracting Democratic Space, Stanford CA: Stanford University Press, pp. 25-57. Weiss, Meredith L., 2015. “Civil Society and Democratization in Southeast Asia: What is the Connection?”, in William Case, ed., The Routledge Handbook of Southeast Asian Democratization, London: Routledge, pp. 135-146. Further Readings Kuhonta, Eric M. and Aim Sinpeng, 2014. “Democratic Regression in Thailand: The Ambivalent Role of Civil Society and Political Institutions”, Contemporary Southeast Asia 36(3): 333-355. Hsiao, Hsin-Huang Michael, and Ming-sho Ho. "Civil society and democracy-making in Taiwan: Reexamining the link." East Asia's New Democracies. Routledge, 2010. 61-82. |
|
|
7 |
Holiday Children’s Day 4/4 |
No Class |
No Class |
|
8 |
Patronage politics, Clientelism and Democracy 4/11 |
This session investigates how democracy in the quality of Southeast Asian region is limited by clientelism and patronage politics. How does persistent patronage practices, such as vote-buying, which is sustained by “culture” of patron-client relations curb the efforts towards good governance and substantial democracy? Required Readings Aspinall, Edward, 2015. “Money Politics: Patronage and Clientelism in Southeast Asia”, in William Case, ed., The Routledge Handbook of Southeast Asian Democratization, London: Routledge, pp. 299-313. Simandjuntak, Deasy, 2015. “Persistent Patronage: Explaining the Popularity of Former Convicts as Candidates in Indonesia’s Regional Elections”, Singapore: ISEAS Perspectives No. 55 [6 October 2015] Further Readings Dettman, Sebastian and Meredith L. Weiss, 2018. “Has Patronage Lost Its Punch in Malaysia?”, The Round Table 107(6): 739-754. Tomsa, Dirk and Andreas Ufen, eds., 2013. Party Politics in Southeast Asia: Clientelism and Electoral Competition in Indonesia, Thailand, and the Philippines, London: Routledge |
|
|
9 |
Identity-politics and democracy 4/18 |
In this session, students will examine the role of identity in mainstream politics in some of the countries in Southeast Asia. With regards to majority religions, what are the role of Buddhism and Islam in the politics of some countries in the regions? What is the influence of ethno-religious identities in the formation of political allegiance during elections? How are ethno-religious identities mobilized to gain votes? What is the role of ethno-religious identities in communal conflicts? Required Readings Hamayotsu, Kikue, 2008. “Beyond Doctrine and Dogma: Religion and Politics in Southeast Asia,” in Erik M. Kuhonta, Dan Slater, and Tuong Vu, eds., Southeast Asia in Political Science: Theory, Region, and Qualitative Analysis, Stanford CA: Stanford University Press, pp. 171-198. Further Readings Hefner, Robert W., 2000. Civil Islam: Muslims and Democratization in Indonesia, Princeton NJ: Princeton University Press [Chapter One: ‘Democratization in an Age of Religious Revitalization’, pp. 3- 20]. Fink, Christina, 2018. “Myanmar: Religious Minorities and Constitutional Questions”, Asian Affairs 49(2): 259-277 |
|
|
10 |
The military and democracy 4/25
|
The session explores the role of military in impeding (or fostering?) democracy. A special attention will be given to the recent military coup in Myanmar. In contrast, in Indonesia, in the aftermath of the democratic reform in 1998, the military withdrew from its special position in the parliament and the notorious “dual function” which sustained the authoritarian regime of Soeharto was abolished. Required Readings Alagappa, Muthiah, 2013. “Military and democratic development in Asia: a complex narrative.” in Dennis C. Blair (ed.). Military Engagement: Influencing Armed Forces Worldwide to Support Democratic Transitions. Brookings Institution Press. (Ch.1) Further Readings Lindsey, Tim, 2014. “Unlike any land you know about? Myanmar, reform and the Indonesia model.” In Melissa Crouch and Tim Lindsey (eds.), Law, Society and Transition in Myanmar. Hart Publishing. |
|
|
11 |
Populism and Democracy 5/2
|
In this session students discuss the persistence of authoritarian populist regimes in Southeast Asia. How does populism manifest in the region’s hybrid democracies and how does populism impact their governance? Required Readings Robison, Richard and Vedi Hadiz, 2020. “Populism in Southeast Asia: A Vehicle for Reform or a Tool for Despots?”, in Toby Carroll et al., eds., The Political Economy of Southeast Asia: Politics and Uneven Development under Hyperglobalisation [4th ed.], Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan, pp. 155-175. Case, William, 2017. Populist Threats and Democracy’s Fate in Southeast Asia: Thailand, the Philippines and Indonesia, London: Routledge. (Ch. to be announced) Further Readings Mietzner, Marcus, 2016. Reinventing Asian Populism: Jokowi’s Rise, Democracy, and Political Contestation in Indonesia, Washington DC: East-West Center Policy Studies No. 72. |
|
|
12 |
Indonesia: democratic challenges and the state of precarity of ethnic Chinese-Indonesian 5/9 |
As the largest Southeast Asian nation (with a population of 270 million people), Indonesia’s state-building and democratic trajectory, i.e. democratic reforms and regression, has influenced the region in general. In this session, students examine Indonesia’s major political events since its independent in 1945 in order to scrutinize the episodes of patronage politics, ethno-religious conflicts and mobilizations, democratization and majority-minority relations. This session zooms into one important aspect of Indonesia’s identity-politics: the position of ethnic Chinese-Indonesian. On the one hand, the New Order had limited their participation in politics and government, yet on the other hand, Chinese-Indonesians hold the largest share in Indonesia’s economy. There have been various episodes in Indonesia’s politics, in which Chinese-Indonesians have been made scapegoat amidst political turmoil and elite entrenched interests. How do Chinese-Indonesian communities navigate their position within the society in general?
Required Readings Chong, Wu Ling "Rethinking the Position of Ethnic Chinese Indonesians." SEJARAH: Journal of the Department of History 25.2 (2016) Warburton, Eve and Edward Aspinall, 2019. “Explaining Indonesia’s Democratic Regression: Structure, Agency and Popular Opinion”, Contemporary Southeast Asia 41(2): 255-285. Further Readings Simandjuntak, Deasy. "Disciplining the accepted and amputating the deviants: Religious nationalism and segregated citizenship in Indonesia." Asian Journal of Law and Society 8.1 (2021): 88-107 |
|
|
13 |
Malaysia: recent socio-political dynamics 5/16
|
In this session, students will become acquainted with Malaysian politics in general. Special attention will be given to the groundbreaking 14th General Election in 2018, in which the long- standing Barisan Nasional government lost to the opposition Pakatan Harapan. The recent political turmoil, however, further changed the situation. Another important topic to be discussed is the role of the country’s racial preferential policy. Required Readings Moten, Abdul Rashid, 2019. “The 14th General Elections in Malaysia: Ethnicity, Party Polarization, and the End of the Dominant Party System.” Asian Survey 59(3): 500-20. Lee, Hwok-Aun, 2017, “Malaysia’s Bumiputera preferential regime and transformation agenda: Modified programmes, unchanged system” Trends in Southeast Asia 2017 No. 22. Singapore: ISEAS. Further Readings Hutchinson, Francis E., and Lee Hwok Aun, eds., 2019, The Defeat of Barisan Nasional: Missed Signs Or Late Surge? ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. |
|
|
14 |
Singapore: politics and society 5/23 |
In this session, students will be introduced to various aspects of politics and society in the multicultural city-state. Required Readings Tan, Kenneth Paul, 2012, "The ideology of pragmatism: Neo-liberal globalisation and political authoritarianism in Singapore." Journal of Contemporary Asia 42.1: 67-92 Chua, Beng Huat, 2003, "Multiculturalism in Singapore: An instrument of social control." Race & Class 44.3: 58-77. Further Readings Rahim, Lily Zubaidah, 2012, “Governing Muslims in Singapore’s secular authoritarian state.” Australian Journal of International Affairs 66(2): 169-185. |
|
|
15 |
Myanmar: democratic regression 5/30 |
This session explores Myanmar’s democratic trajectory which has recently been halted by a military coup. It also touches upon the plight of the Rohingya ethnic minority. Required Readings Hein, Ye Myo. 2022, "The Root Causes of Myanmar’s Coup Go Deeper." The Wilson Center. Egreteau, Renaud, 2016. Caretaking Democratization: the Military and Political Change in Myanmar. Oxford University Press. Further Readings Thuzar, Moe, 2019. “Repatriating the Rohingya: what regional cooperation can and cannot do.” ISEAS Perspective 2019(73) (13 Sept.) |
Other activities: games, simulation, debates |
|
16 |
Cambodia and Vietnam and their different political stances China 6/6 |
This session explores the different political stances that Cambodia and Vietnam have towards China. Cambodia’s economy is dependent on China, while Vietnam is traditionally against China.
Required Readings
Po, Sovinda & Kearrin Sims, 2022. The Myth of Non-interference: Chinese Foreign Policy in Cambodia, Asian Studies Review, 46:1, 36-54, DOI: 10.1080/10357823.2021.1887813
Thanh Hai, Do. "Vietnam and China: ideological bedfellows, strange dreamers." Journal of Contemporary East Asia Studies 10.2 (2021): 162-182 Further Readings Chandarith, Neak, and Sam Ath Sambath Sreysour. "Cambodia and the Politics of Populism and Nationalism in the South China Sea." Populism, Nationalism and South China Sea Dispute. Springer, Singapore, 2022. 139-157. |
|
|
17 |
Presentation Week 6/13 |
Presentation |
Presentation |
|
18 |
Final Paper Week 6/20 |
No class |
Submission of Final Papers No Homework |
|
Evaluations
Criterion
***The use of generative AI is prohibited. The essays and papers for this course will be evaluated based on how we express our understanding of theories based on our discussions in the classroom, and how we can use these theories to analyze contemporary case studies. Written pieces generated by AIs do not reflect such understanding or connection between theories and case studies as they do not capture the classroom discussions.*** |
Please see the course weekly schedule
NA