This book assesses democratic resilience and challenges in (relatively) newly emerging democracies in the Asia-Pacific, which are simultaneously important case studies as newly emerging middle powers. Across all dimensions and measurements, South Korea and Indonesia are consistently the most salient case studies to consider. The two case studies are compared across three sections. First, the relationship between economic development and democratic resilience in Indonesia and South Korea. Second, nature of political culture and societal constructs in the two case studies. The final section looks at the potential peculiarities of the two case studies, which are seen as uniquely challenged: Indonesia by religious persecution and South Korea by political populism. Certainly, democratization is a long and difficult process. This book provides insight into how the two countries have embarked on similar democratization projects. It also delineates the successes and failures from which valuable lessons on democratization can be drawn.
Author(s): Brendan Howe
Series: Security, Development and Human Rights in East Asia
Publisher: Palgrave Pivot
Year: 2022
Language: English
Pages: 195
City: Cham
Contents
List of Contributors
Abbreviations
List of Figures
List of Tables
1 Asian Democracy
Introduction
Case Selection
Chapter Overview
References
2 Overcoming Economic Stagnation: Indonesia’s Struggle Over Policy Reform in a New Democracy
Introduction
Theoretical Reviews
Twin Crises and Reforming the Indonesian Economy
The Private Sector and the Political Economy of the Reformasi Era
Fundamental Problem of the Manufacturing Industry
Jokowi and the Mission of Deregulation
Concluding Remarks
References
3 Democratic Resilience in the Midst of Economic Crisis: The Case of South Korea
Introduction
Dynamics Underpinning Korea’s Contentious but Continued Democracy
Government Response to Economic Crisis (Asian Financial Crisis)
Government Response to Economic Crisis (COVID-19 Pandemic)
Cultural Factors Supporting Democracy
What’s the Alternative?
Concluding Remarks
References
4 The Resilience of Democracy and Social Movements in Indonesia
Introduction
Social Movement and the State
Workers’ Movements in Indonesia
Encouraging Participatory Policy Formulation
Participating in Electoral Politics
Obstacles and Challenges
Concluding Remarks
Notes
References
5 South Korea’s Progress in Dual Democratization: Social Conflict and Democratic Integration
Introduction
Democracy and Democratization
The Korean Experience of Political Democratization
The Korean Experience of Socio-Economic Democratization
The Korean Experience of Socio-Cultural Democratization
Concluding Remarks
References
6 Strategizing Religious Oppression: Christianity and Indonesia’s Democracy Resilience
Background
A Flawed Democracy and Christianity-Muslim Tension
Strategies Amidst the Oppression
Challenges Within Internal Consolidation
Concluding Note
References
7 Populism: Does It Support or Undermine Democracy? A Case Study of Democratic Resilience in South Korea
Introduction
Background Debate
Cultural Basis of Populism
Interaction Between Authoritarian Regime and Populism
The Dialectic of Modernization and Populism
Democratic Resilience and Two Populist Movements
Conceptual Design for Empirical Study
Two Dimensions of Liberalism and Populism
Two Populist Movements and Democratic Resilience
Concluding Remarks
References
8 An East Asian Democratic Miracle? Challenges and Resilience
Introduction
The Rise of the Asia-Pacific and East Asian Miracles
Points of Comparison
Conclusion
References
Index
