Routledge Handbook of Southeast Asian Democratization

Southeast Asia, an economically dynamic and strategically vital region, seemed until recently to be transiting to more democratic politics. This progress has suddenly stalled or even gone into reverse, requiring that analysts seriously rethink their expectations and theorizing. Now available in paperback, the Routledge Handbook of Southeast Asian Democratization provides the first book-length account of the reasons for democracy’s declining fortunes in the region today. Combining theory and case studies, it is structured in four major sections:

• Stunted Trajectories and Unhelpful Milieus
• Wavering Social Forces
• Uncertain Institutions
• Country cases and democratic guises

This interdisciplinary reference work addresses topics including the impact of belief systems, historical records, regional and global contexts, civil society, ethnicity, women, Islam, and social media. The performance of political institutions is also assessed, and the volume offers a series of in-depth case studies, evaluating the country records of particular democratic, hybrid, and authoritarian regimes from a democratization perspective. Bringing together nearly 30 key international experts in the field, this cutting-edge Handbook offers a comprehensive and fresh investigation into democracy in the region

This timely survey will be essential reading for scholars and students of Democratization and Asian Politics, as well as policymakers concerned with democracy’s setbacks in Southeast Asia and the implications for the region’s citizens.

William Case is professor and Head of School of Politics, History and International Relations at the University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus. He was formerly professor at City University of Hong Kong and director of the Southeast Asia Research Centre there. He has held visiting positions at the University of Malaya, the National University of Malaysia, the University (Institute) MARA in Malaysia, University of Philippines at Diliman, Ateneo de Manila University, Yuchengco Centre at De La Salle University in Manila, Chulalongkorn University, and the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Jakarta.