The Bulletin
Men's Weekly


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Democracy has always been fragile in Southeast Asia. Now, it may be sliding backwards

  • Written by James Chin, Professor of Asian Studies, University of Tasmania
Democracy has always been fragile in Southeast Asia. Now, it may be sliding backwardsNARONG SANGNAK/EPA

Just five years ago, many people were optimistic that Southeast Asia had finally turned the corner when it comes to democracy.

Myanmar’s military had finally loosened its decades-long grip on power when Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy party won elections in 2015. Three years later, Malaysia’s...

Read more: Democracy has always been fragile in Southeast Asia. Now, it may be sliding backwards