Illiberal Trends in Southeast Asia

Session Submission Type: Full Paper Panel

Session Description

Southeast Asia is an important region within which to examine global trends in illiberal politics. The region not only reflects a range of contemporary global trends, but also consists of countries with some of the most diverse political systems and levels of economic development in the world. The papers on this panel explore illiberal trends in contemporary Southeast Asia, including democratic backsliding in Singapore, intolerance and persecution of minorities in Indonesia, and the resurgence of nationalism during Myanmar’s political transition. Using both quantitative and qualitative methods, building on fieldwork that leverages survey experiments and interviews, the papers on this panel expand our understanding of diverse illiberal trends shaping politics across Southeast Asia that have global implications.

Sub Unit

• Related Groups / Southeast Asian Politics

Individual Presentations

• Scapegoating and Symbolic Politics: the Targeting of Indonesia’s Shi’a Minority - Jessica Soedirgo, University of Amsterdam

• Weapons of the Strong: Threat Narratives and Religious Solidarity in Myanmar - Megan Ryan, University of Michigan

• Global & Local Religion: Who's on Your Side & Violent Attitudes - Jori Breslawski, Tel Aviv University; Brandon Ives, Seoul National University

• “New Normal” No More: Democratic Backsliding in Singapore After 2015 - Walid Jumblatt Abdullah, Nanyang Technological University

Chair

• Jori Breslawski Tel Aviv University

Discussant

• Sana Jaffrey Carnegie Endowment for International Peace