Crises and Corruption: The Trends of Asian Democracies

Thailand struggles along with its economic problems and now with a court decision that indirectly legalizes public sector corruption by the head of government. Business as usual? At least the rules of political business as usual have not changed.

Now consider this "only in Indonesia" story. After decades of dictatorship, Indonesia adopted a democratic form of government in 1998. Its first elected leader was President Wahaid, and his administration had endless difficulties from the outset. Riots in East Timor coincided with a new round of fighting in the Irian province. These events also coincided with serious disputes within Mr. Wahaid's government that led to selection of Ms. Megawati as vice-President. When he was charged with corruption and other abuses of power, Mr. Wahaid was impeached by the Indonesian Parliament. Rather than depart quietly, Mr. Wahaid stood firm and refused to leave the Presidential Palace until several days after Ms. Megawati was inaugurated as President. Despite the tension caused by his departure, a quasi-peaceful transfer of power occurred between Mr. Wahaid and his bitter rival Ms. Megawati. Ironically Ms. Megawati, the presumed new preserver of Indonesian democracy, is the daughter of Indonesia's first dictator Mr. Sukharno.

What does all this imply about the future of Asian democracy? As the financial situation becomes more unstable, so will the politics. The lessons of democracy are not learned quickly, but with this extent of turmoil, it will take the emerging democracies of Asia many generations to comprehend fully the basic concepts of constitutional governance and maintenance of a civil society.

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