Comparative Political Transitions between Southeast Asia and the Middle East and North Africa

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xii

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2. Introduction

   • Teresita Cruz-del Rosario, James M. Dorsey

   Pages 1-20

3. Nascent and Latent: Differential Roles of Civil Society in Southeast Asia and the MENA Region

   • Teresita Cruz-del Rosario, James M. Dorsey

   Pages 21-54

4. To Shoot or Not to Shoot: The Military in Political Transitions

   • Teresita Cruz-del Rosario, James M. Dorsey

   Pages 55-87

5. Superpowers, Regional Hegemons, Ethno-Nations, and Sectarian States: Identity Politics in Transition Regimes

   • Teresita Cruz-del Rosario, James M. Dorsey

   Pages 89-122

6. Conclusion: Transition(ing) to What?

   • Teresita Cruz-del Rosario, James M. Dorsey

   Pages 123-138

7. Back Matter

   Pages 139-165

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This book investigates the theme of global transitions with a cross-regional comparative study of two areas experiencing change over the past three decades: Southeast Asia and the Middle East and North Africa (MENA). Political transitions in Asia have been the subject of interest in academic and policy-making communities recently as there are encouraging signs of democratization in countries that exhibit elements of authoritarianism. In those countries with relatively open political systems, transitions to democracy have been complete – albeit messy, flawed, and highly contested. In contrast, countries of the MENA region that have been gripped by revolts in recent years find themselves in the midst of chaotic and uncontrollable transitions. Why are there such differences between these regions? What, if anything, can be learned and applied from the transitions in Southeast Asia? These questions are answered here as Asia’s experience is contrasted with the Arab revolts and the struggle of the different countries in the MENA region to fashion a new social contract between states and citizens.  

• democratic transition
• society-state relations
• Arab militaries
• sectarianism
• inter-ethnic relations
• Arab spring

“How are civil-military relations to be reformed in transitional democracies? Will fledgling democracies remain under the firm control of the military? In addressing these questions, Dorsey and Cruz-del Rosario offer us a unique cross-regional study comparing the role of the military in the transitional democracies of Southeast Asia and the Middle East/North Africa–two regions that do not feature prominently in the literature on post-transition civil-military relations. This book is a superb contribution to our understanding of how civil-military relations affect efforts to consolidate new democracies.” (Leonard C. Sebastian, Associate Professor, S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore)

“Why have political transitions in Southeast Asia–Thailand excepted–succeeded relatively peacefully, whereas the political transitions in the MENA region popularly known as the ‘Arab Spring’– Tunisia excepted–generally failed violently? Whatdo the differences reveal about political transitions in general? This important and unique comparative study is essential reading for anyone in search of answers to these, and other, related questions.” (Bilahari Kausikan, Singapore Ambassador at Large)

“The Middle East and Southeast Asia were among the last regions to see the dismantling of the Cold War regimes on the Asian continent.  This process of transition is still incomplete in Southeast Asia and is ‘lost in transition’ in the Middle East.  The authors here undertake a comparative study of these two regions that represents a steady reflection on tumultuous events, carefully unraveling the myriad, complex forces at work in both regions.” (Prasenjit Duara, Oscar Tang Professor of East Asian Studies, Department of History, Duke University, USA)

“In this wide-ranging volume, Teresita Cruz-del Rosario and James M. Dorsey present us with fascinating and thought-provoking comparisons and reflections on popularmovements and revolts against autocracies in both Southeast Asia and the Middle East. From an unusual angle based on years of experience on the ground in both regions, they shed new light on the many factors–immediate and longterm, regional and global–that have roiled the Middle East for the past four years, and Southeast Asia in the past four decades. Such genuinely cross-regional perspectives will become indispensable in the years ahead, as world regions interact and influence each other with ever greater intensity.” (Engseng Ho, Professor of Anthropology and  History, Duke University, USA, and Muhammad Alagil Distinguished Visiting Professor in Arabia Asia Studies, Asia Research Institute, National University of Singapore)

• National University of Singapore Asia Research Institute, Singapore, Singapore

  Teresita Cruz-del Rosario

• Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, Singapore

  James M. Dorsey

Teresita Cruz-del Rosario is Senior Research Fellow at the Asia Research Institute at the National University of Singapore. Her research interests include development, migration, and Asia-Arabia historical connections. She is the author of numerous chapters and books, including The State and the Advocate: Development Policy in Asia.


James M. Dorsey is Senior Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Singapore, and Co-Director of the Institute for Fan Culture at the University of Würzburg, Germany. He is a syndicated columnist and the author of The Turbulent World of Middle East Soccer.  

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