This course investigates the various types of democratic, semi-democratic and non-democratic governance in Southeast Asia, and pays particular attention to the electoral systems applied in each state. After introducing some key theoretical debates on democracy and elections, the course will examinine the state of democracy in the Philippines, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Cambodia and Indonesia. In doing so, the course measures each country's level of electoral competitiveness, political rights and civil liberties. Subsequently, we will analyse non-democratic regimes in Southeast Asia (Vietnam, Burma and Singapore), and discuss how these states instrumentalise elections in order to gain popular legitimacy. In approaching its subject, the course also analyses the socio-political environment of democratic and authoritarian rule in Southeast Asian states, discussing in particular the role of the media, social inequality, and gender issues.

Postgraduate students will be expected to demonstrate and further expand their ability to engage in scholarly debates and to produce high-quality discussion papers. In addition, postgraduate students will be encouraged to independently research assigned topics and present them to the class. This approach aims to prepare postgraduate students for either future studies or their imminent professional careers.

Postgraduate students:

Tutorial Attendance and Participation: 15 %

Tutorial Presentation: 15 %

Tutorial Paper (2000 words): 25 %

Research Essay (4000 words): 45 %