Undermining Democracy: Elites, Attitudes, Norms, and Behaviors in Southeast Asia

DEMOCRACY IN ACTION. Mock elections are held at the Bagong-Pag-asa Elementary School in Quezon City. File photo by Joel Liporada/Rappler

Threats to democracy are not new in Southeast Asia. Manipulated elections, press and assembly controls, weakening of public attitudes and values toward democracy, elite stoking of populist illiberalism—Southeast Asia has it all. How should we understand these regional dynamics? This article discusses how larger global dynamics, underlying structural elements, and public attitudes open the door to political elites who are able to capitalize on malleable attitudes to undermine democracy. Additionally, the article looks at what the implications are for US interests in Asia.

NYSEAN Member Amy Freedman writes for the Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs.

Click to download the article here.