This collection brings us up-to-date on the contemporary situations in the new democracies of East Asia, and debates on the prospect of introducing liberal democracy to this part of the world. The chapters cover a wide range of cases, including in-depth examination of China, Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Thailand, and broad comparisons of Malaysia, Singapore, Indonesia, Vietnam, and other countries.

The contributors, who are foremost experts in their fields, examine the roles performed by civil society, social classes, and strategic groups, as well as the intertwining of values and interests in the transition to, consolidation of, and reversal from democracy. They also evaluate the extent to which these new democracies have facilitated regional peace, helped extend social welfare benefits, bolstered poverty alleviation, and upheld the rule of law and human rights. Grounding their analyses in the historical development of these societies, and/or examining them through the comparative strategy they also explore the desirability of liberal democracy, whether in the subjective assessment of the Asian people or in relation to the social-political challenges faced by these Asian countries.

East Asia’s New Democracies will be of interest to students and scholars of comparative politics, political science, political sociology, East and Southeast Asian studies.

Reflects on the contemporary situations in the new democracies of East Asia, and debates on the prospect of introducing liberal democracy to this area. The chapters cover a wide range of cases, including in-depth examination of China, Korea, Taiwan, the Philippines, Thailand, and broad comparisons of other countries.

1. East Asia’s New Democracies: An Introduction Yin-wah Chu and Siu-lun Wong  Part 1: Transition, Consolidation, Reversal: Actors Then and Now  2. Social and Political Developments in China: Challenges for Democratization Jude Howell  3. Civil Society and Democracy-Making in Taiwan: Reexamining the Link Hsin-Huang Michael Hsiao and Ming-sho Ho  4. The Bottom-Up Nature of Korean Democratization: Civil Society, Anti-Americanism and Popular Protest Bruce Cumings  5. Modernization Theory’s Last Redoubt: Democratization in East and Southeast Asia Mark R. Thompson  6. Development and Change in Korean Democracy since the Democratic Transition in 1987: The Three Kims’ Politics and After Hyug-Baeg Im  7. Thailand’s Conservative Democratization Kevin Hewison Part 2: Democracy in East Asia? Achievements and Enduring Challenges  8. Democracy and Disorder: Will Democratization Bring Greater Regional Instability to East Asia? Amitav Acharya  9. Democracy’s Double Edge: Financing Social Policy in Industrial East Asia Joseph Wong  10. Devolution and Democracy: A Fragile Connection Ledivina V. Carino  11. Rule of Law and Democracy: Lessons for China from Asian Experiences Randall Peerenboom  12. Group Rights and Democracy in Southeast Asia Beng Huat Chua  13. Diagnosing the Micro Foundation of Democracy in Asia: Evidence from the AsiaBarometer Survey: 2003-2008 Satoru Mikami and Takashi Inoguchi