The aim of the course is to discuss the phenomena of political development as encountered in the following Southeast Asian nations: Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand, Brunei and Singapore. In the process, the course addresses the challenges of political institution building as well as the challenges of political democratization since the Second World War. The course is divided into eight sections:

Section 1: A review of comparative politics methodology and its relevance today. An overview of political challenges faced by developing countries.

Section 2: The objectives of political development and modernization. Why some democracies fail and others succeed?

Section 3: Process of political modernization institutional building and political socialization.

Section 4: Indonesia An overview of its political history, experiment with parliamentary democracy, 1948 1957, guided democracy, 1958 1965, military takeover and consolidation, 1965 1971, the legacy of Suharto and orde baru regime (new order) 1971 1998, Indonesia after Suharto, 1998 onwards.

Section 5: The Philippines: An overview of its political history, experiment with liberal democracy, 1946 1965, the legacy of Ferdinand Marcos, 1965 1986, peoples power and Corazoan Aquino, 1986 1992, the presidency of Fidel Ramos, 1992 1998, the presidency of Joseph Estrada, 1998 2001, the presidency of Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, 2001 - present.

Section 6: Thailand: An overview of its political history, from revolution of 1932 to present. 1946 1973: military government, 1973 1977: experiment with democracy, 1977 1990: military and civilian government, 1998 onwards: democratic government.

Section 7: Singapore: An overview of political development since World War II. Lee Kuan Yews Singapore, 1959 1990, Singapore since Lee Kuan Yew, 1990 onwards.

Section 8: Brunei: An overview of political development since World War II.



References:



1. Schwarz, Adam and Paris, Johnathan. Ed. (1999). The Politics of Post Suharto Indonesia. Singapore: SNP Edi. Pte. Ltd.

2. Lande, Carl H. (1996). Post Marcos Politics. New York: St. Martins Press.

3. Somsakdi Xuto, (ed.). (1987). Government and Politics of Thailand. Singapore: Oxford University Press.

4. Mauzy, Diane K. and Milne, R.S. (2002). Singapore Politics Under the Peoples Action Party. London: Routledge.

5. Saunders, Graham E. 1994. A History of Brunei. Kuala Lumpur: Oxford University Press.