Political Legitimacy in Southeast Asia: The Quest for Moral Authority (Contemporary Issues in Asia and the Pacific)

The Countries Of Southeast Asia, Most Of Which Won Their Independence After World War Ii, Have Had Varying Degrees Of Success In Establishing Governments And Political Systems That In The Eyes Of Their Citizens Have Achieved Political Legitimacy - That Is, Are Seen To Have The Right To Rule. Because These Countries Have Much In Common And At The Same Time Differ In Important Ways - With Their Political Arrangements Varying From Leninist State To Monarchy, Personal Dictatorship To Quasi-democracy - They Offer What Might Be Considered A Naturally Occurring Political Science Experiment.--book Jacket. The Right To Rule Affects All Political Activities And Is Crucial To An Understanding Of The Politics Of Any Country. This Book Studies Political Legitimacy In Seven Southeast Asian Countries-malaysia, Singapore, Philippines, Burma, Thailand, Indonesia, And Vietnam. Among The Questions Is Addresses Are: What Is The Meaning And Nature Of Legitimacy? What Are Its Constituent Elements? Who Is Seeking To Legitimate What? Who Or Which Groups Are Crucial For Legitimation? On What Basis Is Authority Claimed, Acknowledged, Resisted? Why Do Legitimation Projects Succeed Or Fail? Why Is Legitimacy Contested? Can Any Overall Patterns Be Observed?--book Jacket. Contributors -- A Note On Thai And Vietnamese Names -- Introduction / Muthiah Alagappa -- Part I. Legitimacy: Explication And Elaboration: 1. The Anatomy Of Legitimacy / Muthiah Alagappa ; 2. The Bases Of Legitimacy / Muthiah Alagappa ; 3. Contestation And Crisis / Muthiah Alagappa -- Part Ii. Legitimacy: Case Studies: 4. Malaysia: Aspects And Audiences Of Legitimacy / William Case ; 5. Singapore: Political Legitimacy Through Managing Conformity / Cho-oon Khong ; 6. The Philippines: The Languages Of Legitimation / John T. Sidel ; 7. Burma: The Depoliticization Of The Political / Chaeo-tzang Yawnghwe ; 8. Thailand: The Evolution Of Legitimacy / Saitip Sukatipan ; 9. Indonesia: Historicizing The New Order's Legitimacy Dilemma / Mochtar Pabottingi ; 10. Vietnam: The Changing Models Of Legitimation / Thaveeporn Vasavakul -- Part Iii. Conclusion And Observations: 11. Seeking A More Durable Basis Of Authority / Muthiah Alagappa -- Notes -- Bibliography -- Index. Edited By Muthiah Alagappa. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [397]-432) And Index.

Despite the end of the Cold War, security continues to be a critical concern of Asian states. Allocations of state revenues to the security sector continue to be substantial and have, in fact, increased in several countries. As Asian nations construct a new security architecture for the Asia-Pacific region, Asian security has received increased attention by the scholarly community. But most of that scholarship has focused on specific issues or selected countries. This book aims to lay the groundwork for a comprehensive, in-depth understanding of Asian security by investigating conceptions of security in sixteen Asian countries. The book undertakes an ethnographic, country-by-country study of how Asian states conceive of their security. For each country, it identifies and explains the security concerns and behavior of central decision makers, asking who or what is to be protected, against what potential threats, and how security policies have changed over time. This inside-out or bottom-up approach facilitates both identification of similarities and differences in the security thinking and practice of Asian countries and exploration of their consequences. The crucial insights into the dynamics of international security in the region provided by this approach can form the basis for further inquiry, including debates about the future of the region.