Abstract
Communism, as doctrine and programme of political action, polarises South-east Asia today. In the larger part of the region, Communist parties are either banned and/or government forces carry on running small-scale clashes with local Communist insurgents. In the Indochinese states, however, Communist governments now prevail, although, particularly in Laos and in the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (SRV), guerrilla dissidents of various political persuasions also battle government security forces. The uneasy relationship between the Communist and non-Communist segments of South-east Asia has been further complicated since 1973 by the border clashes and political conflict between Kampuchea (the Democratic Republic of Cambodia) and the SRV resulting in a rival ‘People’s Republic of Kampuchea’, backed by Hanoi, being installed in Phnom Penh in January 1979.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Notes
See, e.g., Lee Kuan Yew, The Battle for Merger (Singapore: Government Printing Office, 1961), p. 93 and passim.
For details see Justus M. van der Kroef, ‘National Security Defense Strategy and Foreign Policy Perceptions in Indonesia’, Orbis Summer 1976, pp. 461–95.
Josef Silverstein, Burma. Military Rule and the Politics of Stagnation (Ithaca and London: Cornell University Press, 1977), pp. 26–30.
Edward Feit, The Armed Bureaucrats. Military-Administrative Regimes and Political Development (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1973), pp. 99–101.
Huang Ho, ‘The Mystery that is Burma’, Sunday Nation (Singapore), 6 July 1975; Feit, The Armed Bureaucrats, p. 102; Frank Trager, ‘Burma, 1967 — A Better Ending than Beginning’, Asian Survey, February 1968, pp. 110–11.
On Burmese student opposition see Mya Maung, ‘Burma’s Surpluses of Rice and Rebels’, Pacific Community, October 1972, pp. 130–48;
William Mattern, ‘Burma — Lining Up Against Ne Win’, and M. C. Tun, ‘Burma — Five Fiery Days of Student Unrest’, both in Far Eastern Economic Review 11 July 1975, pp. 27–8, and 27 June 1975, p. 20, respectively.
Klaus Fleischmann, ‘Problems of Contemporary Burma’, Asia Quarterly, 1973, no. 1, pp. 79–81; Asia Research Bulletin, 28 February 1974, pp. 2453–4.
Frank N. Trager and William L. Scully, ‘Burma in 1977: Cautious Changes and a Careful Watch’, Asian Survey, February 1978, pp. 142–5.
Christian Müller in Swiss Review of World Affairs November 1977, p. 12.
Donald E. Weatherbee, The United Front in Thailand. A Documentary Analysis (University of South Carolina, Institute of International Studies, 1970), pp. 22–3.
On the opposition role of Thai students see esp. Ross Prizzia and Narong Sinsawasdi, ‘Evolution of the Thai Student Movement 1940–1974’, Asia Quarterly, 1975, no. 1, pp. 3–54.
Jeff Romm, Urbanization in Thailand (International Urbanization Survey, The Ford Foundation, s.I., 1972), p. 115.
Preceding data have also been cited in Justus M. van der Kroef, ‘Thailand: Loosening the Linchpin’, Art International/The Lugano Review May 1974, pp. 66–74.
On Thanom’s fall see Ruth-Inge Heinze, ‘Ten Days in October — Students vs. the Military’, Asian Survey, June 1974, pp. 491–508;
Robert F. Zimmerman, ‘Student Revolution in Thailand: the End of the Thai Bureaucratic Polity?’ Asian Survey June 1974, pp. 509–29; and van der Kroef, ‘Thailand: Loosening the Linchpin’.
David Morell, ‘Political Conflict in Thailand’, Asian Affairs (New York), January—February 1976, pp. 151–84.
On political tensions in this period see, e.g., Kobkua Suwannathat Pian, ‘Thailand in 1976’, pp. 239–63 in K. S. Sandhu (ed.), Southeast Asian Affairs 1977 (Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 1977);
Karl Erich Weber, ‘Serendipity Missed. Report on the Parliamentary Elections in Thailand 1975’, Internationales Asienforum, vol. 6 (1975), no. 3, pp. 302–22;
Roger Kershaw, ‘The Denial of Pluralist Democracy in Thailand: An Anatomy of the Crisis of August 1975’, Art International/The New Lugano Review, January 1978, pp. 52–60.
On the 6 October 1976 events see, e.g., Thomas A. Marks, ‘The Military and Politics in Thailand: An Analysis of Two October Coups (1976–1977)’, Issues and Studies, January 1978, pp. 58–89;
and Puey Ungphakorn, ‘Violence and the Military Coup in. Thailand’, Bulletin of Concerned Asian Scholars July-September 1977, pp. 4–12.
For the character and effect of the Thanin policies see Justus M. van der Kroef, ‘Thailand: A New Phase in the Insurgency?’ Pacific Community (Tokyo), July 1977, pp. 600–24.
Frank H. Golay, ‘Some Costs of Philippine Politics’, Asia (New York), Autumn 1971, p. 46, and
P. D. Hutcheon, ‘Power in the Philippines: How Democratic is Asia’s First Democracy?’ Journal of Asian and African Studies, July—October 1971, pp. 207–16.
Justus M. van der Kroef, ‘The Philippine Maoists’, Orbis Winter 1973, pp. 892–926. I have also drawn on this article for data in the previous and next two paragraphs.
Eduardo Lachica, Huk: Philippine Agrarian Society in Revolt (Manila: Solidaridad Publishing House, 1971), p. 180.
On the CPP(M-L) and NPA see esp. Southeast Asia Treaty Organisation, The Communist Party of the Philippines, SEATO Short Paper no. 52 (Bangkok, SEATO, 1971).
For details see Justus M. van der Kroef, ‘Communism and Reform in the Philippines’, Pacific Affairs Spring 1973, pp. 37–8.
See, e.g., Report of an Amnesty International Mission to the Republic of the Philippines, 22 November-5 December, 1975 (London: Amnesty International Publications, 1976) and
Justus M. van der Kroef, ‘Philippine Political Prisoners and the U.S.’, World Affairs (Washington, D.C.), Spring 1978.
Brewster Grace, The Politics of Income Distribution in the Philippines (American Universities Field Staff Reports, Southeast Asia series, New York) vol. 25, no. 8, 1977, p. 3.
Cesar Vicata, ‘Philippines: Rewards of Stability’, Insight (Hong Kong), August 1975, pp. 25–42.
Data in this paragraph from: David Wurfel, ‘Martial Law in the Philippines: the Methods of Regime Survival’, Pacific Affairs, Spring 1977, pp. 7–8;
Far Eastern Economic Review 30 September 1977, pp. 15–16; The New York Times 9 January 1978; and Dennis Shoesmith, ‘Land Reform in the Philippines: Emancipating or Emaciating the Tenant Farmer’, Australian Outlook December 1974, pp. 280–1. Data in this and preceding two paragraphs are also cited in
Justus M. van der Kroef, ‘Philippine Communism: Recent Developments and Problems’, Issues and Studies, March 1978, pp. 41–2.
On the origins of the Moro problem see, e.g., Peter G. Gowing, Mosque and Moro. A Study of Muslims in the Philippines (Manila: Philippine Federation of Christian Churches, 1964);
Aprodicio A. Laguian, ‘The Political Integration of Muslim Filipinos’, Philippine Journal of Public Administration October 1969, esp. pp. 366–9;
Mamintal A. Tamano, ‘The Expectations of Muslims as Philippine Citizens’, Solidarity (Manila), July—August 1975, pp. 32ff.
J. Panglaykim and H. W. Arndt, The Indonesian Economy: Facing A New Era? (Rotterdam University Press, 1966), esp. p. 30.
T. K. Tan, ‘Sukarnian Economics’, p. 41 in T. K. Tan (ed.) Sukarno’s Guided Indonesia (Brisbane and Melbourne: Jacaranda Press, 1967), p. 41.
See, e.g., Masashi Nishihaia, Golkar and the Indonesian Elections of 1971 (Modern Indonesia Project, Cornell University, Ithaca, N.Y., 1972)
and R. William Liddle, ‘The 1977 Indonesian Election and New Order Legitimacy’, in K. S. Sandhu (ed.), Southeast Asian Affairs 1978 (Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 1978).
Justus M. van der Kroef, ‘Indonesia’s Political Prisoners’, Pacific Affairs, Winter 1976–77, pp. 625–47, and Indonesia. An Amnesty International Report (London: Amnesty International Publications, 1977).
J. Stephen Hoadley, ‘Indonesia’s Annexation of East Timor: Political, Administrative and Development Initiatives’, pp. 133–44, in K. S. Sandhu (ed.), Southeast Asian Affairs 1977 (Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, 1977), and Decolonization in East Timor (Department of Foreign Affairs, Republic of Indonesia, March 1977).
Ralph R. Premdas, ‘Papua New Guinea in 1977: Elections and Relations with Indonesia’, Asian Survey, January 1978, pp. 65–6.
Robert C. Rice and Hal Hill, ‘Survey of Recent Developments’, Bulletin of Indonesian Economic Studies (Canberra), July 1977, pp. 1–28;
C. Manning, ‘Survey of Recent Developments’, Bulletin of Indonesian Economic Studies November 1971, esp. p. 17.
Sumitro’s analysis in Antara despatch, Djakarta, 13 June 1976 (FBIS, 1 July 1976), and Far Eastern Economic Review, 3 December 1976, p. 29. See also Sumitro’s analysis, published under the title ‘Indonesia Toward the Year 2000’ in Ekonomi dan Kuangan Indonesia, September 1975, and Willard Hanna, Through A Glass Gloomily, American Universities Field Staff reports, vol. 24, 1976, no. 5, pp. 2–3.
Chua Wee Meng, ‘The Singapore Economy: Past Performance, Current Structure and Future Growth Prospects’, pp. 220–29 in K. S. Sandhu (ed.), Southeast Asian Affairs 1977 (Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, FEP International, 1977).
John S. T. Yuah, ‘Singapore: Towards a National Identity’, pp. 207–19 in K. S. Sandhu (ed.), Southeast Asian Affairs, 1977 (Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies, FEP International, 1977).
See in this connection Peter S. J. Chen, ‘Elites and National Development in Singapore’, Southeast Asian Journal of Social Science (Singapore), vol. 3, 1975, no. 1, pp. 17–21.
For the background of UMNO’s policy perceptions see, e.g., James C. Scott, Political Ideology in Malaysia: Reality and the Beliefs of an Elite (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1968).
Lee Kuan Yew, The Battle for a Malaysian Malaysia (Singapore: Ministry of Culture, 1965).
For a succinct analysis of some of the dynamics of Malaysia’s political parties see, e.g., Nena Vreeland, et al., Area Handbook for Malaysia (Washington, D.C.: US Government Printing Office, 1977), pp. 229–54.
Justus M. van der Kroef, ‘Communism and Chinese Communalism in Sarawak’, China Quarterly (London), October—December 1964, pp. 38–66.
On the 1969 election and riot see Nancy L. Snider, ‘Race, Leitmotiv of the Malaysian Election Drama’, Asian Survey December 1970, pp. 1070–80; and
Felix V. Gagliano, Communal Violence in Malaysia, 1969. The Political Aftermath (Athens, Ohio: Ohio University, 1970).
For these post-riot developments also as described below in this paragraph see Vreeland, et al., Area Handbook for Malaysia pp. 234–6, and Marvin L. Rogers, ‘Malaysia and Singapore: 1971 Developments’, Asian Survey February 1972, pp. 168–76.
See, e.g., Daniel Regan, ‘Islam, Intellectuals and Civil Religion in Malaysia’Sociological Analysis Summer 1976, pp. 95–110. See also
R. S. Milne, ‘National Ideology and Nation Building in Malaysia’, Asian Survey, July 1970, pp. 563–73.
R. S. Milne, ‘The Politics of Malaysia’s New Economic Policy’, Pacific Affairs Summer 1976, pp. 235–62; Far Eastern Economic Review, Asia 1978 Yearbook p. 251.
Pran Chopra, ‘The Malaysian Miracle and Dilemma’, The World Today, May 1974, pp. 200–01.
Brewster Grace, ‘The Politics of Income Distribution in Malaysia’, American Universities Field Staff Reports, vol. 24 (1976), no. 9, pp. 4–5.
J. P. Arlès, ‘Ethnic and Socio-Economic Patterns in Malaysia’, International Labour Review, December 1971, p. 544;
Wolfgang Kasper, Malaysia. A Study in Successful Economic Development (Washington, D.C.: American Enterprise Institute for Public Policy Research, 1974), p. 37; Far Eastern Economic Review, Asia 1978 Yearbook p. 249.
Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, May 13. Before andAfter (Kuala Lumpur: Utusan Melayo Press, 1969), p. 191.
Douglas Pike, ‘Socialist Republic of Vietnam’, pp. 387–93 in Richard F. Staar (ed.), Yearbook on International Communist Affairs, 1977 (Stanford, Calif.: Hoover Institution Press, 1977).
William S. Turley, ‘Vietnam Since Reunification’, Problems of Communism, March-April 1977, p. 41.
Douglas Pike, ‘Vietnam in 1977: More of the Same’, Asian Survey, January 1978, pp. 68–75.
David Rees, Vietnam Since Liberation. Hanoi’s Revolutionary Strategy (Conflict Studies, no. 89, Institute for the Study of Conflict, London, November 1977), p. 7.
Arthur J. Dommen, ‘Laos’, pp. 324–9 in Richard F. Staar (ed.), Yearbook on International Communist Affairs, 1976 (Stanford, Calif.: Hoover Institution Press, 1976).
MacAlister Brown and Joseph J. Zasloff, ‘Laos 1977: The Realities of Independence’, Asian Survey February 1978, pp. 168–71; Asia Yearbook 1978 (Far Eastern Economic Review, London, 1978), pp. 234–5.
Kaysone Phomvihan, Report to Lao SPC - Council of Ministers’ Meeting (cf. note 129 supra), and Kaysone Phomvihan, ‘The Victory of Creative Marxism-Leninism in Laos’, World Marxist Review (North American edition), March 1977, p. 24.
Karl D. Jackson, ‘Cambodia 1977: Gone to Pot’, Asian Survey January 1978, p. 81; Asia Yearbook 1978 p. 154.
On ASEAN’s ‘resilience’ concept see Justus M. van der Kroef, ‘ASEAN and U.S. Security’, Strategic Review Spring 1978, pp. 51–61.
José Veloso Abueva, ‘Filipino Democracy and the American Legacy’, The Annals November 1976, p. 114. See also The Asian Student (San Francisco), Supplement, 8 April 1978, p. S–11.
Remigio E. Agpalo, The Organic-Hierarchical Paradigm and Politics in the Philippines (Quezon City: University of the Philippines Press, 1973), p. 24, also cited in Abueva, ‘Filipino Democracy’.
Compare Roger Kershaw, ‘The Denial of Pluralist Democracy in Thailand: An Anatomy of the Crisis of August, 1975’, Art International/The New Lugano Review, January 1978, p. 58.
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Copyright information
© 1981 Justus M. van der Kroef
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
van der Kroef, J.M. (1981). The contemporary political environment. In: Short, A. (eds) Communism in South-east Asia. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-16462-2_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-16462-2_2
Publisher Name: Palgrave, London
Print ISBN: 978-0-333-24813-3
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-16462-2
eBook Packages: Palgrave Political & Intern. Studies CollectionPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)