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 also about why amidst the general trends of moving from democracy to authoritarian governments and, for some, back to democracy, there was no one ‘right’ way to consolidate power in the long term in Southeast Asia. • Note that the following categorization is for you to identify patterns of change and continuities and is not in absolute terms. Southeast Asian states generally exhibited both democratic and authoritarian features of government than to fit perfectly under one categorisation. Thus the categorization is based on relative terms and the extent to which the government leaned more towards democracy or authoritarianism at each time period.

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/Lt3/2023/ INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY Southeast Asian states (year of Independe nce) Forms of Government (type of government, with year when the phase began if applicable) Initial Phase (immediate post- independence) 2nd Phase 3rd Phase (to 2000) The Philippines (1946) Democracy e.g. President Roxas, Quirino, Magsaysay Authoritarian Govt (Civilian Dictatorship, 1972) e.g. President Marcos Democracy 1986 e.g. President Aquino Burma (1948) Democracy e.g. Prime Minister U Nu Authoritarian Govt (Military Dictatorship, 1962) e.g. Prime Minister Ne Win Authoritarian Govt (Military Dictatorship, 1988) e.g. Prime Minister Saw Maung Indonesia (1949) Democracy e.g. President Sukarno Authoritarian Govt e.g. Sukarno’s Guided Democracy 1957/1959 e.g. President Suharto 1966 Military Dictatorship Transition to Democracy, 1998 e.g. President B. J. Habibie

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/Lt3/2023/ INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY Cambodia (1954) Authoritarian Govt (Traditional / Reformist monarchy) e.g. King Sihanouk Authoritarian Govt (Totalitarian Communist, 1975) e.g. Prime Minister Pol Pot UN-sponsored co- rule between rival factions (affected by war; political system not easily categorised, 1991) North Vietnam (1954) Authoritarian Govt (Revolutionary / Communist) e.g. President Ho Chi Minh Authoritarian Govt (Market-orientated Socialism, 1988) e.g. Doi Moi Reforms South Vietnam (1954-75) Authoritarian Govt affected by war- under the disguise of “democracy” (Dictatorship + Civil War) e.g. President Ngo Dinh Diem Not applicable (annexed by North Vietnam in 1975) Malaya (1957) / Malaysia (1963) Democracy e.g. Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman Authoritarian Govt (Martial Law under NOC, 1969-1971 temporary) Democracy with elements of Authoritarianism, 1971 e.g. Prime Minister Abdul Razak

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/Lt3/2023/ INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY Singapore (1965) Democracy with strong elements of Authoritarianism e.g. Prime Minister Lee Kuan Yew Democratic Govt that still contained elements of Authoritarianism but less authoritarian than before, 1990) e.g. Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong Thailand (never colonized) Authoritarian Govt (Dictatorship, 1948) e.g. Prime Minister Phibun, Sarit, Thanom Democracy, 1973 e.g. Prime Minister Seni Pramoj Democratic and authoritarian rule co-existing, 1976 (Increasing civilian leadership taking over from military leadership) e.g. Prime Minister Prem

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/Lt3/2023/ INTERNAL CIRCULATION ONLY 3. General Trends in Political Developments 3.1 Two general trends in the political developments of Southeast Asian governments from independence to 2000 • Two developments are observed across the three phases of political developments in Southeast Asian countries since 1945: a) 1st Phase: Formation of democratic governments - Formation of government based on consensus and liberal (pluralist) politics, the leaders of which subject themselves periodically to account to the people. b) 2nd Phase: A trend towards authoritarianism - The other was a trend towards autocracy, leaders who basically placed themselves in power through various means and ruled alone or with a minimum of consultation, deciding what was best for the nation. A growing autocratic/authoritarian trend (late 1950s-60s) • The trend