Civil society and political change in Asia : expanding and contracting democratic space

Civil society and political change : an analytical framework / Muthiah Alagappa -- Indonesia : transformation of civil society and democratic breakthrough / Edward Aspinall -- The Philippines : fractious civil society and competing visions of democracy / Jennifer C. Franco -- South Korea : confrontational legacy and democratic contributions / Sunhyuk Kim -- Taiwan : no civil society, no democracy / Yun Fan -- India : expanding and contracting democratic space / Amitabh Behar and Aseem Prakash -- Japan : social capital without advocacy / Robert Pekkanen -- Malaysia : construction of counterhegemonic narratives and agendas / Meredith L. Weiss -- Sri Lanka : ethnic domination, violence, and illiberal democracy / Neil Devotta -- Singapore : engagement and autonomy within the political status quo / Suzaina Kadir -- Pakistan : civil society in the service of an authoritarian state / Aqil Shah -- Burma : civil society skirting regime rules / Kyaw Yin Hlaing -- China : the limits of civil society in a late Leninist state / Mary E. Gallagher -- The nonstate public sphere in Asia : dynamic growth, institutionalization lag / Muthiah Alagappa -- Civil society and democratic change : indeterminate connection, transforming relations / Muthiah Alagappa.

This book is the first comprehensive, systematic investigation of the connection between civil society and political change in Asia—change toward open, participatory, and accountable politics. Its findings suggest that the link between a vibrant civil society and democracy is indeterminate: certain types of civil society organizations support democracy, but others have the potential to undermine it.
Further, the study argues that while civil society is a key factor in political change, democratic transition and consolidation hinge on the development of effective political parties, legislatures, and state institutions. Rooted in a common definition of civil society, a strong analytical framework, and rich empirical material, the analyses and conclusions of the book will have a lasting impact on the understanding of civil society and its relation to democracy in Asia and around the world.

This book is the first comprehensive, systematic investigation of the connection between civil society and political change in Asiachange toward open, participatory, and accountable politics. Its findings suggest that the link between a vibrant civil society and democracy is certain types of civil society organizations support democracy, but others have the potential to undermine it. Further, the study argues that while civil society is a key factor in political change, democratic transition and consolidation hinge on the development of effective political parties, legislatures, and state institutions. Rooted in a common definition of civil society, a strong analytical framework, and rich empirical material, the analyses and conclusions of the book will have a lasting impact on the understanding of civil society and its relation to democracy in Asia and around the world.

“Civil Society and Political change in Asia not only constitutes a major contribution to the study of civil society in East Asia but also helps to blaze the trail for contributions to be made in the future.”—Perspectives on Politics

“This volume presents readers with an excellent opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of civil society and the challenges of creating a democratic space in Asia, thus addressing the serious gaps in the current literature....this expertly edited, theoretically rich, and analytically sophisticated book will make an important contribution to scholarly debates on civil society. It should be of considerable interest to scholars, policymakers, students, and development activists who are keen on gaining a deeper understanding of civil society, democracy, and development.”—Journal of Asian Studies

Contents 5 Tables and Figures 7 Preface 9 Selected Acronyms and Abbreviations 15 Contributors 21 Introduction 25 PART I Conceptual Perspective 47 Civil Society and Political Change 49 PART II Legitimate Civil Society 83 Indonesia 85 The Philippines 121 South Korea 162 Taiwan 188 India 215 Japan 247 PART III Controlled and Communalized Civil Society 281 Malaysia 283 Sri Lanka 316 Singapore 348 PART IV Repressed Civil Society 379 Pakistan 381 Burma 413 China 443 PART V Conclusion 477 The Nonstate Public Sphere in Asia 479 Civil Society and Democratic Change 502 Index 531 "This book is the first comprehensive, systematic investigation of the connection between civil society and political change in Asia - change toward open, participatory, and accountable politics. Its findings suggest that the link between a vibrant civil society and democracy is indeterminate: Certain types of civil society organizations support democracy, but others have the potential to undermine it."--Jacket. Despite its Western pedigree, the term civil society has entered Asian political discourse and analysis in a substantive manner.