Democratic Transitions in Asia

Democratic Transitions in Asia focuses on political changes in the Asian region. Since the 1997 economic crisis, countries of the region are seeing greater demands for the accountability of leaders. Symbolic of the region’s continuing struggle for democratization, the President of South Korea, Kim Dae Jung was awarded the Nobel Peace Price in 2000, joining other recent Asian Nobel laureates, Aung San Suu Kyi, the Dalai Lama, Bishop Carlos Belo and Jose Ramos Horta.

But where does the region stand in real terms with regards to democratization?

In the Philippines, the popularly elected President Joseph Estrada was forced to step down by “People Power 2” when the impeachment process failed. In Indonesia, President Abdurrahman Wahid who became Indonesia’s president after the democratic elections of 1999, faces multiple challenges. In Thailand, in the first elections held under a new democratically drafted constitution, millionaire Thaksin Shinawatra was popularly elected as Prime Minister while under investigation for failure to disclose assets. In Malaysia, the political scene is still coloured by the sacking and conviction of former Deputy Prime Minister, Anwar Ibrahim. In Singapore, there is much talk of civil society, but tight government control remains. Meanwhile, in Burma opposition leader Aung San Suu Kyi remains under house arrest, Vietnam and Laos are still reluctant to open up and the politics of violence continues to plague Cambodia.

In this volume, politicians, civil society activists, journalists and academics talk about how to translate democracy into practice. They examine the reforms needed for democratic transitions in Asia: democratizing political institutions and processes, human rights, the rule of law, free media, civil society, decentralization, demilitarization, local economy and the development of a free market.

The contributors to this volume identify the obstacles and present their arguments for how the transition to democracy can proceed.  It goes beyond the usual academic discourse and talks about practice. The way politics should be.

Students, observers, commentators and promoters of democracy will find this volume crucial to their understanding of this region.

CONTENTS

Acknowledgements

Preface

by Surin Pitsuwan

Introduction

Uwe Johannen and James Gomez

Part I : Democratic Transitions in Asia : Agenda for Action

Reforms Needed for Democratic Transitions in Asia :

Some Thoughts Outside The Box

Donald Emmerson

Lessons from Indonesia's Democratisation for ASEAN

Marzuki Darusman

Part II : Developing Democratic Institutions and Processes

Democracy in Asia : Riding the Wave

Wan Azizah Wan Ismail

The Prospect of Institutionalizing Democracy in Indonesia

Mulyana W. Kusumah

Developing Democratic Institutions and Processes in Thailand

Prakob Chirakiti

Part III : Human Rights, the Rule of Law and Independence of the Judiciary

Human Rights Protection Needs Rule of Law and Independence of Judiciary to Succeed

Lung-chu Chen

Rule of Law Imporant for Democracy in Asia

Martin Lee

The Rule of Law and Regimes of Exception in East-Asia

Kanishka Jayasuriya

Human Rights Abuses and Violations in Burma

Sein Win

PART IV : STRENGTHENING CIVIL SOCIETY AND FREE MEDIA

Stronger Civil Society Needed to Ensure a Free Media

Malou Mangahas

The Role of NGOs in South Korea's Election Campaign

Kim Sei-ung

Malaysia's Virtual Democracy

Steven Gan

Freedom and Truth : Cultivating the Free Press in Emerging Democracies

Michael Vatikiotis

Civil Society and Political Freedom in Taiwan

Bi-Khim Hsiao

PART V : BACK TO THE BARRACKS : CIVILIAN SUPREMACY

Repositioning of the Indonesian Military : A Process of Reform Necessity or a Political Issue?

Agus Widjojo

Establishing Civilian Supremacy in Southeast Asia

Harold Crouch

PART VI : LEGAL FRAMEWORK FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A FREE MARKET ECONOMY

Transparency in The Economy will Aid Democracy in South Korea

Kim Sang-woo

Enforcement of Rule of Law Necessary for Free Market Economy in Asia

Kim Sei-ung

The Political Agenda Underpinning Economic Policy Formulation in Singapore's Authoritarian Development State

Lily Zubaidah Rahim

PART VII : DECENTRALISATION AND LOCAL AUTONOMY : CENTRE-PERIPHERY ISSUES

Decentralisation and Democratisation : Indonesian Regional Autonomy Policy

Andi A. Mallarangeng

Decentralisation : Stronger Democracy; Faster Modernisation - The Philippine Experience

Aqiulino Q. Pimentel Jr.

Revitalisation of Local Self-Government : The Korean Experience

Yoo Jay-kun

PART VIII : CONSOLIDATING DEMOCRATIC GAINS : THE INDONESIAN EXPERIENCE

Summary of Discussion

Rainer Adam

Notes on Contributors

Published and distributed in Singapore in 2001.                                          By Select Publishing Pte, Ltd.                                                                        In association with Friedrich Naumann Foundation

ISBN 981-4022-17-9

To order, please go to the select books website: www.selectbooks.com.sg