Chapter 10:

The Asian ExceptionBy: Midori Araki

Previous chapters, Diamond argues that democracy is the best form of government and it can happen in developing countries.

But is Asia the exception of an alternative form of government to democracy?

Why has democracy survived in some Asian countries and not others?

What are the challenges to new democracies in Asia?

Case of Singapore

• Government: non-democracy• Singapore as an alternative to democracy?– Political stability– Economic Growth, FDI– Free and fair elections

• What prevents it from being a democracy?– Lack of Civil rights: No free speech • Ex: Chee Soon Juan, opposition, sued into

bankruptcy)

– Lack of transparency:• Ex: no disclosure of government budget/spending

Can Singapore serve as a successful alternative form of government to

democracy?

– “…as education and income levels continue to rise, pressure will mount to free the press, make the electoral system fairer, and more competitive, and reform the authoritarian “mindset, ideology, and hierarchy” of the ruling party” (Diamond 212)

– PAP’s declining power and loss of legitimacy– Lack of transparency – Growing dissent among the educated and younger

generation

Why has democracy survived in some countries and not others in

Asia?Authoritarian governments have produced positive

results for the country that legitimize their rule (Singapore, Malaysia, Cambodia-aid)

Need for a strong state/leader to propel democracy. ◦ “…before there can be a democratic state, there must first be

a state, with an effective monopoly over the means of violence” (Diamond 213).

Military rulers legitimized by being in a state of “transition” towards democracy

Strong and repressive dictatorships can’t be overthrown (North Korea, Burma, Vietnam, Laos, China)

Are Asian Values “Unfit” for Democracy?

• “…the mass public in much of Asia expresses considerable support for democratic values, undermining the claim of Asian exceptionalism” (214)

• “Asians have generally positive views of democracy and how it works. They are not more likely than citizens of Western democracies to demand respect for authority” (214)

What are the challenges to new democracies in Asia?

• Need better government • Improve quality and capacity of institutions– Corruption of leaders• Taiwan 2006, President refused to resign after charges

of insider trading/ corruption/ demonstrations • South Korea 2002, President Roh won by a small

margin, but was a lame-duck due to courts’ opposition.

Hope for democracies in Asia

Indonesian Case • Taiwan, Philippines, Bangladesh

Corruption, abuse of power, political violence, civil rights/free speech

How illiberal and dysfunctional can a state be before it’s considered a failed state?

◦ Bangladesh had: free media, active civil society, institutions to constrain power abuse

◦ But, no respect for political process resort to violence

Prospects for Global democracy?

◦What has allowed democracy to succeed so far? Regionalism Civil Society Leadership/Strong government institutions

◦What is hindering democracies progression? Other types of government are performing: economy, political

stability, standard of living (Singapore, China, Malaysia, Cambodia)

Weak institutions: Needs stability and strong leadership Corruption