Southeast Asia

Article Overview

  • Title: Authoritarian Innovations: Crafting Support for a Less Democratic Southeast Asia

  • Authors: Nicole Curato & Diego Fossati

  • Published: Democratization, 27:6, 1006-1020 (2020)

  • Keys to Access: DOI link provided for citation

Introduction

  • Contemporary Democratic Backsliding:

    • Often occurs gradually.

    • Elected officials subvert democratic institutions subtly.

    • Requires a focus on new tactics used by authoritarians to stifle dissent and undermine democratic frameworks.

  • Concept of Authoritarian Innovations:

    • Describes sophisticated practices used to erode democracy in Southeast Asia, with specific case studies from Indonesia, Malaysia, and Singapore.

Characteristics of Authoritarian Innovations

  • Innovation vs Traditional Tactics:

    • Traditional authoritarian behaviors: Press censorship, imprisonment of opposition, etc.

    • Modern innovations are more subtle, using new governance styles and technologies to maintain power while appearing democratic.

  • Impact of Authoritarian Practices:

    • Serves to dilute accountability and silence dissent.

    • Can happen in both democratic and authoritarian contexts.

Structural and Contextual Dynamics

  • Influence of Broader Changes:

    • Structural changes prompt the adaptation of new authoritarian practices.

    • Importance of understanding the conditions enabling these innovations.

  • Dimensions of Authoritarian Control:

    • Innovations can manifest as policies, legal tools, technical methods, or rhetorical changes.

Implications for Democratic Studies

  • Rethinking Democratic Backsliding:

    • Calls for more nuanced understandings of democracy beyond traditional indicators (e.g., elections).

    • Need for a focus on informal practices and public participation constraints.

  • Research Directions:

    • Emphasizes analyzing specific cases and practices shaping the erosion of democracy, rather than relying on generalized theories.

Regional Focus: Southeast Asia

  • Diversity and Patterns:

    • The region exhibits various authoritarian practices and democratic erosion.

    • Cases in Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, and the Philippines illustrate diverse authoritarian strategies.

  • Contextual Features:

    • Political and cultural diversity informs strategies used by authoritarian actors.

    • New data suggests a shift from overt repression to more sophisticated forms of control.

Case Studies in Authoritarian Innovations

  • Indonesia:

    • Analysis of policies that reduce electoral competition and increase participation costs.

  • Malaysia:

    • Examination of how longstanding authoritarian practices adapt in an increasingly competitive political environment.

  • Singapore:

    • Use of social media strategies to bolster government support while undermining political competition.

Conclusion and Recommendations

  • Challenges to Democracy:

    • Innovations create complex challenges requiring vigilant observation of political practices.

  • Implications for Policy:

    • Importance of developing nuanced strategies to counter authoritarian practices and foster democratic values.