Obstacles to Democratization in Southeast Asia: A Study of the Nation State, Regional and Global Order (Critical Studies of the Asia-Pacific)

Paul comprehensively analyzes the meaning of democratization in South East Asia's nation-states and how it relates to the development of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN.) In doing so, he questions the viability of ASEAN and its potential to move towards a common market and community. Cover......Page 1 Contents......Page 6 List of Tables......Page 8 Acknowledgements......Page 9 The nation state, regionalization and global integration......Page 10 Sustainability of the system......Page 15 The future of the global state......Page 17 2 Struggle for Democracy......Page 21 Class struggle......Page 23 Race struggle......Page 27 Globalization......Page 28 Pathways to political change......Page 32 Conclusions......Page 37 Southeast Asia's nation states......Page 39 Brunei......Page 42 Cambodia......Page 45 Indonesia......Page 55 Laos......Page 67 Malaysia......Page 74 Myanmar......Page 84 Philippines......Page 91 Singapore......Page 100 Thailand......Page 109 Timor-Leste......Page 119 Vietnam......Page 128 The construction of Southeast Asia......Page 136 ASEAN's expansion......Page 139 ASEAN's integration......Page 141 Capturing ASEAN......Page 146 The United States in Southeast Asia......Page 152 China in Southeast Asia......Page 161 5 Ecological Scarcity......Page 168 Ecological scarcity......Page 173 Political implications......Page 175 Old imperialism......Page 180 A new world order......Page 182 Global apartheid......Page 186 Perpetual war for perpetual peace......Page 190 Blowback......Page 194 7 ASEAN's Future......Page 197 References......Page 209 A......Page 229 C......Page 230 E......Page 231 H......Page 232 K......Page 233 M......Page 234 P......Page 235 S......Page 236 T......Page 237 U......Page 238 Z......Page 239 Obstacles to democratization in Southeast Asia are substantial but vary from state to state because of historical circumstances. In many instances, authoritarian power disenfranchises the majority of people and leads to widespread corruption and repression. At the regional level, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations' (ASEAN) vision of a democratic community faces serious problems. The inability of ASEAN to confront Myanmar's state of permanent aggression against its people is indicative of ASEAN weakness as a mechanism to advance human rights in Southeast Asia. ASEAN needs to institutionalize a community like the European Union. However, this is unlikely to be achieved unless member nation states allow citizens to freely decide on their political and economic futures Surrendering sovereignty Struggle for democracy Obstacles to democratization: Brunei; Cambodia; Indonesia; Laos; Malaysia; Myanmar; Philippines; Singapore; Thailand; Timor Leste; Vietnam Regional integration Ecological scarcity Global hegemony ASEAN's future.