Tutorial 8: Search for political stability / Approaches to Governance

 Was there political stability in independent Southeast Asia?

What is political stability? How do you measure political stability? What do you need to see in a country for you
to say that there is political stability?

Definition:

Evaluate whether the following countries have political stability across time. Do not narrate the entire political-
history of the country. Looking at the history of the country pick out different pieces of facts that will
substantiate one or two main points that summarises the political-history of that particular country. (Two
examples have been modelled for you)

Malaysia (~75%)
Popular support for government
Peaceful transition of governments
 National Alliance formed in 1953 and included
three main ethnic groups
o National Alliance won the first federal
elections in 1955
 Barisan Nasional formed in 1973 as a broad
coalition including previous opposition
groups created stability as disagreements were
away from the public
 Over the years opposition parties, such as PAS
and DAP, have gained influence but they
remain committed to winning power through
peaceful constitutional means
Demonstrations in society against government
 Konfrontasi launched by Indonesia but did not
greatly affect political stability of Malaysia as
there was strong support and assistance from
the British Commonwealth, Australia, New
Zealand, etc
 Socio-economic disparity led to 1969 race riots
and the openness of democracy contributed to
it
 Led to banning of sensitive topics such as
Malay privileges, citizenship criteria, etc
 Military and security apparatus increasingly in
the hands of the Malay majority

Strong economic growth

 In the early years under National Alliance

1
Singapore

Philippines

2
 Myanmar

Indonesia (~40%)

3
 Thailand (~30%)
Popular support for government
 Semi-democracy with rise of Prem in 1970s
 Prem restored and consolidated democracy in
Thailand with support of the Monarchy and
people
 American support gave some legitimacy to
various governments due to their anti-
communist commitment
Strong economic growth
 At various times after WWII due to US
economic and military assistance, with
Thailand being the main anti-communist US
ally in mainland Southeast Asia
Attempted coups against government
 1932 bloodless coup against absolute
Monarchy
 Military coup in 1957 led by Sarit that
overthrew Phibun
 Thanom and Praphat exiled by the King in
1973 due to corruption and rising living cost
 1973-76 chaotic democratic experiment
 1976 saw return to authoritarian military rule
until 1970s

HOT (higher order thinking) questions…

The varying extents to which respective Southeast Asian governments succeeded in asserting political
stability thus depends on?