Democracy in Eastern Asia Issues, Problems and Challenges in a Region of Diversity Politics in Asia Series

With the ?Asian Century? now upon us, bringing with it many profound economic and political changes to the world order, it is very timely to assess the state of democracy in the Asian region. Focusing on Eastern Asia, this book provides such a review, highlighting lines of connections between the states and peoples of this complex and dynamic region.

Featuring chapters on China, Japan, Taiwan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, the Philippines, Cambodia, and Myanmar, this book provides a detailed analysis of the state of democracy in each country or territory, and shows how each is different and distinctive, whilst simultaneously drawing out important similarities. Further, it provides up to date analysis of political changes in the region relating to the processes of democratization, and, in some cases, to the ongoing quest for democracy. Critically examining the current state of political development in the region, the chapters explore the issues and problems that challenge the region?s governments in terms of democratic transition, democratic consolidation, democratic improvement and good governance.

With contributions from leading international scholars, this book will be of great interest to students and scholars interested in Asian politics, and politics and democratization studies more broadly.

Introduction 1. Democracy in Japan: National, Subnational and Grassroots Perspectives 2. South Korea’s Disaffected Democracy 3. Regime Transition to Liberal Democracy: The Case of Taiwan 4. Consolidation of a Low-quality Democracy: Two Cheers for Indonesia 5. Thai Democracy at a Dangerous Crossroads 6. The Limits of Post-Plunder Reform in the Philippines’ Oligarchic Democracy 7. Developments in Cambodian Democracy: Democratic Consolidation or Authoritarian Durability? 8. Democracy and Change in Malaysia: When Do Authoritarian Controls Backfire? 9. Democratization and Embracing Uncertainty in Post-2011 Singapore 10. The Democratic Transition in Myanmar: Will the Reforms be Sustained? 11. Democratization in Hong Kong: A Theoretical Exception 12. The Quest for Constitutional Democracy in Contemporary China

Edmund S. K. Fung is Professor of Asian Studies at the University of Western Sydney and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities.

Steven Drakeley is a Senior Lecturer in Asian and Islamic Studies and a member of the Religious Studies Research Centre at the University of Western Sydney, Australia.