SAJC H2 History Paper 2 2024 Lecture 3 Overview of Political Structures

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/Lt3/2023/ INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY Lecture 3: Overview of Political Developments in Independent SEA SAJC History Unit, 2023 1. Forms of Government in Southeast Asia 2. Overview of Political Developments in Southeast Asia 3. General Trends in Political Developments (3 phases) 4. Factors for the Establishment of Different Forms of Government 5. Introduction of Democratic and Authoritarian Governments 6. Influence of Cold War Politics in Independent Southeast Asian States 7. Main factors to be examined for this topic

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/Lt3/2023/ INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY 1. Forms of Government in Southeast Asia 1.1 What forms of government existed in Southeast Asia? • The term ‘political structure’ of a state refers to the legislative and executive institutions within a state (such as the military, bureaucracy, political parties and interest groups), their relations to one another, their patterns of interaction with one another, and the political regulations, laws and norms present in this political entity. In sum, these constitute the political landscape of a state. • Two main types of political structures can be identified in independent Southeast Asian states: a) Democratic political structures : These are characterised by plurality of institutions that do not necessarily share common value systems to coexist and share political power. In such structures, consensus is sought. Examples mainly comprise liberal or parliamentary democracies. b) Authoritarian governments: These tend to concentrate political power in the hands of a select few. While the size of the ruling elite is significantly reduced, they wield ed a high degree of influence. Governments are thus almost all-powerful. o Examples of forms of governments that practise authoritarianism to varying degrees : military, civilian, communist , monarchy, constitutional monarchy

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/Lt3/2023/ INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY 2. Overview of Political Developments in Southeast Asia 2.1 Different forms of Southeast Asian governments over time • Rather than treating each phase and the different governments as information to be memorised, consider the significant difference it would make if we remain curious about why particular forms of government emerged at specific times in Southeast Asia’s history. • Think a