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Democracy in East Asia

A New Century

edited by Larry Diamond, Marc F. Plattner, and Yun-han Chu

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Democratization scholars believe that the next regional wave of transitions to democracy may unfold in East and Southeast Asia.

In their introduction to the 1998 edition of Democracy in East Asia, Larry Diamond and Marc F. Plattner predicted that East Asia, with its remarkable diversity of political regimes, economies, and religions, would likely be the most critical arena in the global struggle for democracy, a prediction that has proven prescient. Although the recent political upheavals in the Middle East have understandably grabbed the world’s attention, there is reason to doubt whether the...

Democratization scholars believe that the next regional wave of transitions to democracy may unfold in East and Southeast Asia.

In their introduction to the 1998 edition of Democracy in East Asia, Larry Diamond and Marc F. Plattner predicted that East Asia, with its remarkable diversity of political regimes, economies, and religions, would likely be the most critical arena in the global struggle for democracy, a prediction that has proven prescient. Although the recent political upheavals in the Middle East have understandably grabbed the world’s attention, there is reason to doubt whether the overthrow of some authoritarian regimes there will lead to the establishment of stable democracies any time soon. On the other hand, East Asia, the world’s most populous and economically dynamic region, already boasts several consolidated democracies and provides a fascinating laboratory for studies of both authoritarian resilience and the prospects for democratization. This updated volume, which features contributions by distinguished scholars in East Asian studies, will be welcomed by instructors and students in the field, particularly as U.S. foreign policy is in the process of undertaking a "pivot" toward Asia.

Democracy in East Asia offers a comprehensive treatment of the political landscape in both Northeast and Southeast Asia, including discussions of China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Burma (Myanmar).

Contributors: Larry Diamond, Marc F. Plattner, Francis Fukuyama, Minxin Pei, Yun-han Chu, Hyug Baeg Im, Thitinan Pongsudhirak, Dan Slater, Martin Gainsborough, Don Emmerson, Edward Aspinall, Mark Thompson, Benjamin Reilly, Joseph Wong, Chong-Min Park, Yu-tzung Chang

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Reviews

Asian and non-Asian authors debate the desirability of democracy in East Asia... The two editors... do an excellent job introducing the issues, ideas, and approaches of the fifteen authors.

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Book Details

Publication Date
Status
Available
Trim Size
6
x
9
Pages
288
ISBN
9781421409689
Table of Contents

Acknowledgements
Introduction
Part I: Comparative and Institutional
Chapter 1. The Patterns of History
Chapter 2. Parties, Electoral Systems, and Governance
Chapter 3. From Developmental States to Welfare

Acknowledgements
Introduction
Part I: Comparative and Institutional
Chapter 1. The Patterns of History
Chapter 2. Parties, Electoral Systems, and Governance
Chapter 3. From Developmental States to Welfare States
Chapter 4. Regime Performance and Democratic Legitimacy
Part II: Northeast Asia
Chapter 5. Is CCP Rule Fragile or Resilient?
Chapter 6. China and the Taiwan Factor
Chapter 7. The Two Turnovers in South Korea and Taiwan
Part III: Southeast Asia
Chapter 8. The Irony of Success in Indonesia
Chapter 9. Reviving Reformism in the Philippines
Chapter 10. Thailand's Uneasy Passage
Chapter 11. Strong-State Democratization in Malaysia and Singapore
Chapter 12. Elites vs. Reform in Laos, Cambodia, and Vietnam
Chapter 13. Burma: The Democrats' Opportunity
Chapter 14. Minding the Gap Between Democracy and Governance
Chapter 15. The Shadow of China
Index

Author Bios
Featured Contributor

Larry Diamond

Larry Diamond is coeditor of the Journal of Democracy, codirector of the International Forum for Democratic Studies, and a senior fellow at the Hoover Institution.
Featured Contributor

Marc F. Plattner

Marc F. Plattner is vice president for research and studies at the National Endowment for Democracy. Plattner and Diamond are coeditors of the Journal of Democracy.