SAJC H2 History Paper 2 2024 Lecture 4 Political Structures Pt 1

Paper 2: Developments in Southeast Asia (Independence – 2000) Theme I: Forming Nation-States – Establishing Political Structures and Legitimacy 1 SAJC/History Department/SEA/JC1/Theme 1: Forming Nation-States/Lt4/2023/ INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY Lecture 4: Phase 1 – Democratic Governments SAJC History Unit, 2023 1. Possible question types for this lecture 2. Case Study 1: Burma 3. Case Study 2: Indonesia 4. Case Study 3: Philippines 5. Case Study 4: The Federation of Malaya / Malaysia 6. Case Study 5: Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam)

Paper 2: Developments in Southeast Asia (Independence – 2000) Theme I: Forming Nation-States – Establishing Political Structures and Legitimacy 2 SAJC/History Department/SEA/JC1/Theme 1: Forming Nation-States/Lt4/2023/ INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY

Paper 2: Developments in Southeast Asia (Independence – 2000) Theme I: Forming Nation-States – Establishing Political Structures and Legitimacy 3 SAJC/History Department/SEA/JC1/Theme 1: Forming Nation-States/Lt4/2023/ INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY 1. Possible question types for the lecture 1.1 Assessing effectiveness of democratic govts in consolidating power • Criterion to assess effectiveness in consolidating power a) Ability to harness traditional institutions b) Ability to maintain order and stability c) Ability to promote constitutional forms and practices d) Ability to promote socio-economic development 1.2 Evaluate significance of each factor in determining whether SEA governments could consolidate power • Factors influencing the consolidation of power: a) Role of Government Leaders o Positive: capacity to consolidate power based on political ideology and nationalist credentials o Negative: Incompetent and driven by self-interest b) Role of Constitutional Processes and Elections o Distribution of political power, provision of avenues for political representation; political mandate o Help to provide structure and foundation on how the country was run → basis of governance c) Role of the Military o Use of the military to create order and stability d) Role of Traditional Institutions o Tapping on traditional institutions like monarchy, religion, and patron-client relationships as sources of legitimacy e) Government Performance o Ability of governments in creating political order, social cohesion and economic growth

Paper 2: Developments in Southeast Asia (Independence – 2000) Theme I: Forming Nation-States – Establishing Political Structures and Legitimacy 4 SAJC/History Department/SEA/JC1/Theme 1: Forming Nation-States/Lt4/2023/ INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY f) Role of Political Challenges and Opposition o as litmus tests of whether governments were able to consolidate power and legitimacy o Political challenges : communist threats, minority uprisings, military coups o Served as a litmus test to the democratic govts in the early years of independence o Popular opposition : middle -class and student movements, pro-democracy movements o Served as a litmus test to the authoritarian govts from the late 1970s → Political challenges and popular opposition were manifestations of incompetent government (evidence of inability of govts to consolidate power + catalyst for change) → Govt response to these opposition would determine whether they would be able to remain in power ( Strategies adopted by governments to manage political challenges and popular opposition) g) Role of Cold War Developments o Positive: provision of political support and aid by superpowers such as the USA, USSR and China o Negative: external influence on domestic political developments

Paper 2: Developments in Southeast Asia (Independence – 2000) Theme I: Forming Nation-States – Establishing Political Structures and Legitimacy 5 SAJC/History Department/SEA/JC1/Theme 1: Forming Nation-States/Lt4/2023/ INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY 2. Case Study 1: Burma 2.1 A chronological overview of the political transitions over time • 1947: Democratic constitution announced • January 1948: Burma attained independence, with U Nu as Prime Minister • 1951: First elections held • 1958: AFPFL split occurred and military caretaker government invited by U Nu to re-establish order • 1962-1988: Ne Win’s coup and the military took over; authoritarian government rule imposed • 1988: The ‘8888’ Uprising • 1988-1997: State Law Order and Restoration Council (SLORC) / State Peace and Development Council (SPDC) Burma, along with Indonesia and Philippines, are the most relevant case studies to answer the question type on the inability of democratic govts to consolidate power. This case study can be used for almost all the factors to explain on the inability of democratic govts to consolidate power. You will find Burma useful as case studies for the following factors: • Role of government leaders • Constitutional processes and elections • The military • Traditional institutions • Government performance • Political challenges (communist and minority uprisings) You will find Burma useful as case studies for the following factors: • Weak socio-political prerequisites due to colonial legacies • Difficult transition to democracy • Weaknesses of party-based politics • Minority uprisings • Communist uprisings • Lack of economic development • Trigger factor to mark end of democratic govts: Intervention by ambitious leaders

Paper 2: Developments in Southeast Asia (Independence – 2000) Theme I: Forming Nation-States – Establishing Political Structures and Legitimacy 6 SAJC/History Department/SEA/JC1/Theme 1: Forming Nation-States/Lt4/2023/ INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY 2.2 Role of Government Leaders and Constitutional Processes and Elections – Weak socio -political prerequisites aggravated by colonial legacies • The leadership of independent Burma came from a somewhat limited elite, mostly English -educated, who preferred democratic forms of government and socialist socio-economic goals. • The Constitution created a parliament modelled after the British parliament but providing for a federal “union” of the several ethnic groups. The two houses of legislature consisted of members irrespective of their ethnic composition. • In April 1947, national elections were held in Burma to select the government that would take Burma to independence with the British. o Aung San’s party, the Anti -Fascist People’s Freedom League (AFPFL) won although no other political party joined the elections and only 49.8% of the expected voters turned up. Nevertheless, the election results meant that the AFPFL formed the government of Burma, headed by Aung San and U Nu, who was deputy chief of the AFPFL. • Aung San’s concept of a free Burma was essentially democratic in nature, intending to set up socialist welfare state with a parliamentary system, rule of law and rights for the minorities. Hence, under Aung San's intended vision for Burma, the country was to exist in a peaceful state of plural politics . Aung San believed that absolute rule should never be revived in Burma since it would not gain the support of the diverse peoples of Burma. He also believed that religion and the state should be separated. • One major challenge facing the Burmese government is the divisive make-up of Burmese society, where the dominant majority Burman1 1 In British usage, ‘Burmese’ is the collective term for anyone from Burma while ‘Burman’ refers to anyone from the dominant Bhama ethnic group from which the name of the country is derived. Thus a Burmese may not be Burman and can be Mon, Karen or Kachin.

Paper 2: Developments in Southeast Asia (Independence – 2000) Theme I: Forming Nation-States – Establishing Political Structures and Legitimacy 7 SAJC/History Department/SEA/JC1/Theme 1: Forming Nation-States/Lt4/2023/ INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY community living in the