KITA Discourse Series No. 7/2019: Speculations about the Future: Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia as Case Studies

Title: SPECULATIONS ABOUT THE FUTURE: MYANMAR, THAILAND AND MALAYSIA AS CASE STUDIES

Tentative Programme:

• 1.45pm – 2.00pm: Registration
• 2.00pm – 2.15pm: Opening Remarks by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Chang Peng Kee, Associate Senior Research Fellow, KITA
• 2.15pm – 3.15pm: Talk by: Prof. Dr. H. Ruediger Korff (Passau University, Germany)
• 3.15pm – 4.00pm: Q & A and End

ABSTRACT:

In the 1990th and especially following the Asia crisis in 1997/98 all over the region there was an expectation of a transformation towards established democratic systems, with a strong middle class as its base. Today the situation has changed to quite a degree. We have Malaysia as a rather stable case of at least democratic procedures. There is only one constitution, regularly elections are held, which have political consequences. The political role of the military and bureaucracy is very limited. In Thailand, in contrast, the constitution is of minor relevance. Usually following a coup the constitution is changed. Democratic procedures like elections etc. take place irregularly. Most parties are organized around one person and play a rather minor role in political decision making. However, prior to the last coup in 2014 there were open pluralist public discourses and little media censorship. Myanmar was characterized by an authoritarian, repressive military regime. Only since 2011 has this changed and the first free elections took place in 2015.

In the presentation I will look at three issues for an analysis:

1. The pattern of strategic group and elite formation in the three countries and its implications for nationalism;
2. The pattern of political power and in particular the importance of charisma of political leaders;
3. Personality orientations towards authoritarianism.

As a preliminary, tentative conclusion, in Malaysia, the integration of the multi-ethnic society and thus different majorities as well as interdependencies require a more or less neutral legal system and pluralist political power and political decision making. Consequently, democratic procedures have to be maintained.

PRESENTER’S PROFILE:

• 1973 to 1998 Study of Sociology at the University of Bielefeld, After the Ph.D. in 1984 working as lecturer and from 1991 as Reader in Sociology of Development
• 1998 to 2000 Professor Madya at Fakulti Sains Pembangunan, UKM
• 2000 to 2004 Full Professor for Sociology of Development at the University of Hohenheim, Germany
• Since 2004 Full Professor (Chair) for Southeast Asian Studies, University of Passau, Germany

Visiting positions:

• Chulalongkorn University, Bangkok (1985 to 1987)
• Gadjah Mada University and Universitas Indonesia (1995)
• Humboldt University of Berlin (1992/93)
• University of Göttingen (1994/95)

Main research fields:
Urbanism and Globalization, State formation and social change in Southeast Asia, history of Southeast Asia