A Course Module on Southeast Asia in Comparative Politics

Gang Guo, Ph.D.Croft Associate Professor

Political Science & Int'l StudiesThe University of Mississippi

Teaching and Learning SEA

• The social and political volatility, dynamic, and diversity of the region present not only a daunting challenge for teaching but also a valuable opportunity for learning.

• As the world seems to be on an irreversible course toward increasing plurality, mixture, and interdependence, Southeast Asia in many ways resembles a microcosm of the world to be.

Teaching and Learning SEA

• We need a more flexible and complex perspective to study comparative politics– Conventional framework of demarcated

boundaries of nation-states.– Conventional framework of a linear path of

development toward developed countries.– Conventional framework of a dichotomous

categorization of democracies versus autocracies.

Two Possible Approaches

• Country by country

• Thematic: four common challenges all states face historically or currently

1. building a nation-state

2. defining the role of religion

3. establishing democracy and rule of law

4. fostering economic development and fairness

Struggle for independence

• Japanese occupation (1941-1945)

• Colonial powers return (1945-early 1950s)

• Charismatic political leaders in the struggle for independence– Vietnam: Ho Chi Minh– Indonesia: Sukarno– Singapore: Lee Kuan Yew– Burma: Aung San

Their legacies

• Leaders of the independence movements

• Negotiations with colonial powers

• Charisma and popularity among public

• Long periods of authoritarian rule

• Today their political successors still play important roles in respective countries

Second-generation leaders

• After initial state & nation building, the 2nd generation leaders gained power through institutional and/or democratic means

• Long periods of authoritarian rule

• Long periods of economic growth– Philippines: Marcos (1965 - 1986)– Indonesia: Suharto (1968 - 1998)– Malaysia: Mahathir (1981 - 2003)

Corruption Perceptions Index

• 2010 ranking from most clean to most corrupt

• 1. Singapore (9.3)• 38. Brunei (5.5)• 56. Malaysia (4.4)• 78. Thailand (3.5)• 110. Indonesia (2.8)

• 116. Vietnam (2.7)• 127. Timor-Leste

(2.5)• 134. Philippines (2.4)• 154. Cambodia (2.1)• 154. Laos (2.1)• 176. Myanmar (1.4)

Income Inequality