Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-fscjk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-26T21:15:27.023Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Transition from Single-Party Dominance? New Data from Malaysia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  24 March 2016

William Case
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Leading theories of transitions from single-party dominant systems begin with economic crisis, the party's loss of patronage resources, and elite-level defections. The multiparty elections that are then held exert no independent effect, but instead register neutrally the party's decline and the democratization of politics. This article, however, shifts attention from the dominant party to citizens and elections in noncrisis conditions. It argues that citizens assess on key dimensions the dominant party's legitimacy or worthiness of support. Further, where they grow critical of its policy outputs, they scrutinize more closely its conformity to procedures. And as they anticipate that their voting preferences will be thwarted by electoral manipulations, they vote in protest, perhaps producing a “liberalizing electoral outcome.” Elections, then, do not simply indicate the dominant party's decline. By deepening alienation, they help citizens to cause it. Analysis is set in Malaysia, long an exemplar of single-party dominance, but recently a case in which the government was dealt a striking electoral setback.

Keywords

single-party dominancecompetitive authoritarianismpolitical legitimacyelectionsethnicitydemocratic transitionMalaysia
Type
Articles
Information
Journal of East Asian Studies , Volume 10 , Issue 1 , April 2010 , pp. 91 - 126
Copyright
Copyright © East Asia Institute 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

ASLI (Asian Strategy and Leadership Institute). 2005. “Malaysia: Economic Perspectives,” www.asli.com.my/DOCUMENTS/asli_sep05.pdf (accessed August 15, 2009).Google Scholar
Aziz, Fauwaz Abdul, and Ghazali, Rahmah. 2008. “Sharir's Motion: 129 Yes, 78 No.” Malaysiakini.com , August 18, www.malaysiakini.com/news/84874 (accessed August 20, 2008).Google Scholar
Bank Negara Malaysia. 2006. “Economic and Financial Developments in Malaysia in the Third Quarter of 2006,” www.bnm.gov.my/view.php?dbIndex=0&website_id=1&id=582 (accessed August 13, 2009).Google Scholar
Baradan Kuppusamy. 2007. “Leaders Urge Return to Moderation After Protests in Malaysia.” South China Morning Post , November 27, 10.Google Scholar
Baradan Kuppusamy. 2008. “Two-Party System Takes Shape in Malaysia.” Asia Times On line , April 10, www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/JD10Ae01.html (accessed April 11, 2008).Google Scholar
Beetham, David. 1991. The Legitimation of Power. London: Macmillan.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Yi, Beh Lih. 2007a. “No Faith in Anwar, Ezam Quits PKR.” Malaysiakini.com , June 25, www.malaysiakini.com/news/69083 (accessed June 26, 2007).Google Scholar
Yi, Beh Lih. 2007b. “PM Defends Keris at UMNO Assembly.” Malaysiakini.com , November 7, www.malaysiakini.com/news/74468 (accessed November 8, 2007).Google Scholar
Brown, Graham K. 2008. “Federal and State Elections in Malaysia.” Electoral Studies 27, 4: 740–744.Google Scholar
Brownlee, Jason. 2007. Authoritarianism in an Age of Democratization. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Brownlee, Jason. 2008. “Bound to Rule: Party Institutions and Regime Trajectories in Malaysia and the Philippines.” Journal of East Asian Studies 8, 1: 89–118.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Buchanan, Allen. 2002. “Political Legitimacy and Democracy.” Ethics 112 (July): 689–719.Google Scholar
Bunce, Valerie J., and Wolchik, Sharon L.. 2009. “Postcommunist Ambiguities.” Journal of Democracy 20, 3: 93–107.Google Scholar
Case, William. 2003. “The Anwar Trial and Its Wider Implications.” In Malaysian Economics and Politics in the New Century , ed. Barlow, Colin and Loh, Francis Wah, Kok, 119–131. Cheltenham: Edward Elgar.Google Scholar
Case, William. 2005. “How's My Driving? Abdullah's First Year as Malaysian PM.” The Pacific Review 18, 2: 137–157.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Case, William. 2006. “Abdullah in the Middle.” Asian Analysis (June), www.aseanfocus.com/asiananalysis/article.cfm?articleID=955 (accessed June 30, 2006).Google Scholar
Chin, James, and Huat, Wong Chin. 2009. “Malaysia's Electoral Upheaval.” Journal of Democracy 20, 3: 71–85.Google Scholar
Wo, Choi Tuck. 2008. “Dr M: Najib Should Not Be PM.” The Star Online , April 21, http://thestar.com.my/news/story.asp?file=/2008/4/21/nation/21012821&sec=nation (accessed April 22, 2008).Google Scholar
Derichs, Claudia. 2007. “Malaysia in 2006: An Old Tiger Roars.” Asian Survey 47, 1: 148–154.Google Scholar
Diamond, Larry. 2002. “Thinking About Hybrid Regimes.” Journal of Democracy 13, 2: 21–35.Google Scholar
Faaland, Just, Parkinson, Jack, and Saniman, Rais. 1990. Growth and Ethnic Inequality: Malaysia's New Economic Policy. London: Hurst and Co.Google Scholar
Aziz, Fauwaz Abdul. 2008. “Crackdown at KLCC: Dozens Picked Up.” Malaysikini.com , January 26, www.malaysiakini.com/news/77477 (accessed January 27, 2008).Google Scholar
Freedom House. 2009. Freedom in the World , www.freedomhouse.org/uploads/fiw09/FIW09_Tables&GraphsForWeb.pdf (accessed August 15, 2009).Google Scholar
Furnivall, J. S. 1956. Colonial Policy and Practice: A Comparative Study of Burma and Netherlands India. New York: New York University Press.Google Scholar
Gatsiounis, Ioannis. 2007. “Anti-graft War Backfires in Malaysia.” AsiaTimes.com, Southeast Asia , March 21, www.atimes.com (accessed March 24, 2007).Google Scholar
Gilley, Bruce. 2005. “Political Legitimacy in Malaysia: Regime Performance in the Asian Context.” In Legitimacy: Ambiguities of Success and Failure in Asia , ed. White, Lynn, 29–66. Hackensack, NJ: World Scientific.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Gilley, Bruce. 2008. “Legitimacy and Institutional Change in China.” Comparative Political Studies 41, 3: 259–284.Google Scholar
Gomez, Edmund Terence. 1998. “Malaysia.” In Political Party Systems and Democratic Development in East and Southeast Asia , vol. 1, ed. Sachsenroder, Wolfgang and Frings, Ulrike E., 226–288. Aldershot: Ashgate.Google Scholar
Gomez, Edmund Terence, and Jomo, K. S.. 1999. Malaysia's Political Economy: Politics, Patronage, and Profits. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Government of Malaysia. 2004. His Majesty's Gazette 48, 8 (April).Google Scholar
Greene, Kenneth F. 2007. Why Dominant Parties Lose: Mexico's Democratization in Comparative Perspective. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hew, Denis. 2008. “The Malaysian Economy: Developments and Challenges.” In Southeast Asian Affairs 2008 , ed. Singh, Daljit and Maung, Tin Than, Maung, 207–222. Singapore: ISEAS.Google Scholar
Horowitz, Donald. 1993. “Democracy in Divided Societies.” Journal of Democracy 4, 4: 18–38.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Howard, Marc Morje, and Roessler, Philip G.. 2006. “Liberalizing Electoral Outcomes in Competitive Authoritarian Regimes.” American Journal of Political Science 50, 2: 365–381.Google Scholar
Institute of Southeast Asian Studies (ISEAS). 2000. “Trends in Malaysia: Election Assessment,” www.iseas.edu.sg/trends120.pdf (accessed August 12, 2009).Google Scholar
International Monetary Fund. 2009. “World Economic Outlook Database, April 2008,” www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2008/01/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2000&ey=2009&ssm=1&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=&br=1&c=548&s=PCPI%2CPCPIPCH&grp=0&a=&pr1.x=69&pr1.y=1 (accessed August 15, 2009).Google Scholar
Jayasankaran, S. 2004. “A Leader Returns.” Far Eastern Economic Review (September 16): 14–17.Google Scholar
Jesudason, James V. 1989. Ethnicity and the Economy: The State, Chinese Business, and Multinationals in Malaysia. Singapore: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Karl, Terry Lynn. 1995. “The Hybrid Regimes of Central America.” Journal of Democracy 6, 3: 72–86.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Chye, Kee Thuan, ed. 2008. March 8: The Day Malaysia Woke Up. Subang, Malaysia: Marshall Cavendish.Google Scholar
Jin, Khoo Kay. 1992. “The Grand Vision: Mahathir and Modernization.” In Fragmented Vision: Culture and Politics in Contemporary Malaysia , ed. Kahn, Joel S. and Low, K. W., 44–76. Sydney: Allen and Unwin.Google Scholar
Ser, Kuek Keng, Kuang. 2006. “Police ‘Attack’ IPCMC in Internal Bulletin.” Malaysiakini.com , May 27, www.malaysiakini.com/news/51654 (accessed June 1, 2006).Google Scholar
Guan, Lee Hock. 2008. “Malaysia in 2007: Abdullah Administration Under Siege.” In Southeast Asian Affairs in 2008 , ed. Singh, Daljit and Maung, Tin Than, Maung, 187–206. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.Google Scholar
Levitsky, Steven, and Way, Lucan A.. 2002. “The Rise of Competitive Authoritarianism.” Journal of Democracy 13, 2: 51–65.Google Scholar
Lindberg, Staffan. 2009. Democratization by Elections: A New Mode of Transition? Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lopez, Leslie. 2003–2004. “He's No Mahathir, and That's OK.” Far Eastern Economic Review (December 25–January 1): 13.Google Scholar
Lopez, Leslie. 2004. “Abdullah Gains in Corruption Fight.” Far Eastern Economic Review (March 4): 13.Google Scholar
Lyall, Kimina. 2004. “PM's Graft War Right on Money.” The Weekend Australian (February 14–15): 12.Google Scholar
Magaloni, Beatriz. 2006. Voting for Autocracy: Hegemonic Party Survival and Its Demise in Mexico. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Mauzy, Diane K. 1983. Barisan Nasional: Coalition Government in Malaysia. Kuala Lumpur: Marican and Sons.Google Scholar
Mohamad, Maznah. 2008. “Malaysia: Democracy and the End of Ethnic Politics?” Australian Journal of International Affairs 62, 4: 441–459.Google Scholar
Merdeka Center. 2008 (incorrectly dated 2007). 12th General Elections—Observations on Issues, Voting Directions and Implications , www.merdeka.org/v2/download/Post%20Election%20Overview%20-%20Presentation.pdf (accessed July 10, 2009).Google Scholar
Moten, Abdul Rashid. 2006. “The 2004 General Elections in Malaysia: A Mandate to Rule.” Asian Survey 46, 2: 319–340.Google Scholar
Moten, Abdul Rashid. 2009. “2008 General Elections in Malaysia: Democracy at Work.” Japanese Journal of Political Science 10, 1: 21–42.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Noor, Muda Mohd. 2007. “Abdul Rahman Othman Quits PKR.” Malaysia kini.com , June 21, www.malaysiakini.com/news/68957 (accessed June 22, 2007).Google Scholar
Netto, Anil. 2008a. “Abdullah's Second-Chance Reform Drive.” Asia Times Online , April 26, www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/JD26Ae01.html (accessed April 30, 2008).Google Scholar
Netto, Anil. 2008b. “Fuel on Malaysia's Political Fire.” Asia Times Online , June 11, www.atimes.com/atimes/Southeast_Asia/JF11Ae02.html (accessed June 12, 2008).Google Scholar
New Straits Times. 2008a. “UMNO Full of Boors and Louts.” April 16: 1.Google Scholar
New Straits Times. 2008b. “General Election '08.” nstonline , www.nst.com.my/Election08 (accessed March 12, 2008).Google Scholar
Beng, Ooi Kee, Saravanamuttu, Johan, and Guan, Lee Hock. 2008. March 8: Eclipsing May 13. Singapore: Institute of Southeast Asian Studies.Google Scholar
Ming, Ong Kian. 2008. “Making Sense of the Political Tsunami.” Malaysia kini.com , March 11, www.malaysiakini.com/news/79604 (accessed March 12, 2008).Google Scholar
Ming, Ong Kian. 2009. “Civil War Within PAS Appears Inevitable.” Malaysiakini.com , July 15, www.malaysiakini.com/news/108516 (accessed July 17, 2009).Google Scholar
Pepinksy, Thomas B. 2009. “The 2008 Malaysian Elections: An End to Ethnic Politics?” Journal of East Asian Studies 9, 1: 87–120.Google Scholar
Pereira, Brendon. 2004a. “Battling Money Politics Entails Tougher Crackdown.” New Sunday Times , September 26, 10.Google Scholar
Pereira, Brendon. 2004b. “Show Us Proof, Says Abdullah.” New Straits Times , September 25, 1.Google Scholar
Ramirez, Luis. 2008. “Malaysian PM Says He Underestimated Power of Blogs Before Suffering Big Election Losses.” Newsvoacom , March 25, http://74.125.153.132/search?q=cache:zWg9886by1MJ:www.voanews.com/english/2008-03-25-voa17.cfm+Abdullah+underestimate+internet+election&cd=1&h1=en&ct=clnk (accessed March 28, 2008).Google Scholar
Schedler, Andreas. 2002. “The Menu of Manipulation.” Journal of Democracy 13, 2: 36–50.Google Scholar
Schedler, Andreas. 2006. “The Logic of Electoral Authoritarianism.” In Electoral Authoritarianism: The Dynamics of Unfree Competition , ed. Schedler, Andreas, 1–23. Boulder: Lynne Rienner Publishers.Google Scholar
Slater, Dan. 2003. “Iron Cage in an Iron Fist: Authoritarian Institutions and the Personalization of Power in Malaysia.” Comparative Politics 36, 1: 81–101.Google Scholar
Smith, Benjamin. 2005. “Life of the Party: The Origins of Regime Breakdown and Persistence Under Single-Party Rule.” World Politics 57, 3: 421–451.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ibrahim, Suffian. 2009. “Clawing His Way Back.” In Najib's First 100 Days , ed. Yeoh, Oon, 93–96. Jaya, Petaling, Malaysia: Gerakbudaya Enterprise.Google Scholar
SWF Institute. no date. “Khazanah Nasional,” www.swfinstitute.org/fund/malaysia.php (accessed August 12, 2009).Google Scholar
Theophilus, Claudia. 2004. “PM: Asset Declaration Includes Immediate, Extended Families.” Malaysiakini.com , April 19, www.malaysiakini.com/news/2004041900115212.php (accessed April 21, 2004).Google Scholar
Trading Economics/Department of Statistics Malaysia. 2009a. “Malaysia GDP Growth Rate,” www.tradingeconomics.com/Economics/GDP-Growth.aspx?Symbol=MYR (accessed August 16, 2009).Google Scholar
Trading Economics/Department of Statistics Malaysia. 2009b. “Malaysia Inflation Rate,” www.tradingeconomics.com/Economics/Inflation-CPI.aspx?Symbol=MYR (accessed August 16, 2009).Google Scholar
Ufen, Andreas. 2008. “The 2008 Elections in Malaysia: Uncertainties of Electoral Authoritarianism.” Taiwan Journal of Democracy 4, 1: 155–169.Google Scholar
Vasudevan, V., Abas, Azural, and Abdullah, Ridzwan. 2008. “Abdullah: I Will Not Leave Party in Disarray.” New Straits Times , April 15, www.nst.com.my/Current_News/NST/Tuesday/Frontpage/2213846/Article/index_html (accessed April 17, 2008).Google Scholar
Waheed, Sajahan, and Abas, Azura. 2008. “Gerakan Members Have Calmed Down.” New Straits Times , September 29.Google Scholar
Weiss, Meredith L. 2006. Protest and Possibilities: Civil Society and Coalitions for Political Change in Malaysia. Palo Alto: Stanford University Press.Google Scholar
Weiss, Meredith L. forthcoming. “Civil Society at the Gate: Edging Toward a New Politics in Malaysia.” Google Scholar
Welsh, Bridget. 2007. “Malaysia's November 2007 Protests: Challenge to Legitimacy.” AsiaPacific Bulletin (East-West Center) 6 (December 21): 1–2.Google Scholar
Welsh, Bridget. 2008. “Election Post-Mortem: Top 10 Factors.” Malaysiakini.com , March 12. www.malaysiakini.com/news/79677 (accessed March 12, 2008).Google Scholar
World Bank. 2005. “Malaysia Economic Update,” http://siteresources.worldbank.org/inteaphalfyearlyupdate/Resources/Malaysia-Update-Nov-2005.pdf (accessed August 12, 2009).Google Scholar
Zahiid, Syed Jaymal. 2008. “UMNO's Keris Is Here to Stay.” Malaysiakini.com , November 6, www.malaysiakini.com/news/74414 (accessed November 7, 2008).Google Scholar
Zahiid, Syed Jaymal, and Omar, Fathi Aris. 2008. “Khir Toyo: UMNO Has Lost Touch with Reality.” Malaysiakini.com , April 28, 2008, www.malaysiakini.com/news/82047 (accessed April 29, 2008).Google Scholar