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Are East Asian countries politically stable?. TAN Ern Ser. Framework. What constitutes East Asia? N-E Asia, S-E Asia. Complexity, heterogeneous: race, class, religion, region, ideology. Interests, visions, strategies (violence, secession, autonomy, reform)
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Are East Asian countries politically stable? TAN Ern Ser
Framework • What constitutes East Asia? N-E Asia, S-E Asia. • Complexity, heterogeneous: race, class, religion, region, ideology. • Interests, visions, strategies (violence, secession, autonomy, reform) • State and government/regime: strong/weak, consensus & legitimacy • Civil society: strong/weak • External factors: recession, security, health.
What is political stability? Peaceful, harmonious Differences and conflict Regime change Breakdown of key institutions Demise of nation
Recent developments • China: Tibet, Taiwan, natural disasters, Islamists. • Taiwan: pro-China or pro-independence. • South Korea: relationship with US and with North Korea. • Philippines: Arroyo government, Southern Philippines. • Indonesia: religious conflict. • Malaysia: post-March general election. • Thailand: Southern Thailand, urban-rural conflict. • Singapore: financial crisis.
Indicators from the recent Asian Barometer Survey 2006-7
Perceived current and future economic condition (1=bad, 5=good)
Evaluation of extent of democracy: free and fair election? (1=free & fair, 4=not so)
Evaluation of extent of democracy: accountability (1=lo, 4=hi)
Evaluation of extent of democracy in Singapore: freedom of speech (1=hi, 4=lo)
Evaluation of extent of democracy: freedom of association (1=hi, 4=lo)
Evaluation of extent of democracy: responsiveness of government (1=hi, 4=lo)
Perceived extent of corruption in government (1=hi degree of corruption, 5=lo)
Perceived equality of treatment by the government (1=agree , 4=disagree)
Open quarrels among politicians are harmful to society (1=agree, 4=disagree)
People should always support the government, (1=agree, 4=disagree)
Relationship between government and people should be like that between parents and children (1=agree, 4=disagree)
Conflict among political groups is NOT a bad thing (1=agree, 4=disagree)
Leave complicated political issues to the future (1=agree, 4=disagree)
Prefer little-by-little political reform (1=agree, 4=disagree)
Conclusion • Thailand: unstable, Malaysia: intermediate, Singapore: stable. • Limitations: Broad stroke and macro-level. Need to look at social divisions. Need to use multivariate model. • Some hypotheses: • Democracy does not lead to stability. • Preference for avoidance of conflict does not necessarily lead to stability. • Good governance lead to stability.