Modern Asian Economy, Society and Politics - Assignment Example

Modern Asian Economy, Society and Politics 1. How would you explain the rise of democracy in Indonesia and the future of the SBY presidency? The changeover from authoritarian rule to democracy in Indonesia has left the Indonesian people with mixed feelings. The economy was still recovering from the Asian meltdown and Indonesia’s ‘Unity in Diversity’ almost took a tumble when the regional separatism raised its ugly head beginning in 1999 with Timor-Leste and followed by Aceh and Papua. “The early years of the 21st century were among the most challenging of Indonesia’s struggles to maintain unity since its independence from the Dutch” (Aguswandi 2010). When the democratisation of Indonesia first began there was a feeling that “the spread of democracy in Indonesia has by no means eradicated all forms of political repression or conflict, but it has tremendously increased the number of people who enjoy freedom, and fostered hope that the bitterness of the Suharto era and the old restrictive political practices would not be repeated” (Baladas 2004). However there was all round disillusionment for the pro-democracy movement that had brought the country relief from dictatorship but not from the corruption which seemed to spread like a fire from the centre to the districts and provinces. The changeover was not easy either and saw the three Presidents before Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, popularly known as SBY became the first democratically elected president who saw a full term and then re-election in 2009. After two general elections in 2004 and 2009 it can be said that Indonesia is well on the way to a turn around. “Contrary to earlier projections of the archipelago’s fragmentation, Indonesia is still intact. Cohesiveness is now maintained by devolution of political power rather than by the central government’s imperialist domination. Aceh, the biggest separatist challenge after East Timor, was settled through peaceful dialogue” (Aguswandi, 2010 ). In the years since democracy the biggest success story for Indonesia so far has been the economic progress and it has not only successfully warded off the economic downturn but is slated to join the BRIC (Brazil, Russia, Indonesia and China) club of emerging economies. This alone is not enough for the SBY government for corruption has still to be removed and his family’s connections to various businessmen, has brought controversy. The arrest of his daughter-in-law’s father in the central bank corruption case may have redeemed SBY but there is need to continue the efforts (The Economist). Papua continues to be a problem area and the army has been used there on more that one occasion to curb the separatist movement and a successful outcome remains a challenge. However there are reasons to be optimistic as people are now becoming aware of their democratic rights as proved by protests that saw the arrest of Komisi Pemberantasan Korupsi (KPK). The media is also free to criticise the government and report any matter of significance to the people. 2. Did the crackdown on Burmese Buddhist Monks in 2007 deepen the political crisis in Burma/ Myanmar? In mid-September 2007, the Burmese Buddhists spearheaded peaceful demonstrations throughout Burma. The demonstrations came to be known as the ‘Saffron Revolution’ and it was comparable to the student rising in 1998 known as the 8888. “The saffron revolution may not have succeeded but analysts began to view it as the beginning of a new chapter in Myanmar’s contemporary history, marking the emergence of a new potential social and political force, nourishing hopes of the opposition and for all who expect general changes in Myanmar” (Gil 2008). In 2006 the military government was trying to appease the International Monetary Fund (IMF) as it was recommending raising taxes on gasoline and since the annual visit of the IMF was about to take place the generals chose not to “implement gradual reductions in subsidies but rather across the board in one hit, raising the price of diesel oil by 100% and compressed natural gas by almost 500%. This had an immediate impact on the cost of food, transport, and electricity generation in Rangoon and across the country, fuelling a growing resentment against the SPDC’s economic mismanagement” (McCarthy 2008). In Myanmar, activities of an independent nature are suppressed by the ruling military junta and the monks’ demand for a roll back in fuel prices did not have any effect on the military rulers. The Alliance of the All Burmese Buddhists Monks demanded that the military regime apologise for the brutal treatment and arrest of monks in Pakkoku. They demanded that all political prisoners including Daw Aung San Suu Kyi be released. They wanted the military regime to enter into a dialogue with the democratic forces in the country and to reduce the fuel prices which was the immediate cause of the monks’ protests. Buddhist monks in Burma are not only spiritual figures but have been politically active. There was a religious boycott as the monks refused to accept alms from members of the military and their families. They over turned their alms bowls and this was done across all monasteries. They led the demonstrations from the front and this “growth in their emboldened attitude towards resistance may point to a growing long term trend in Burmese opposition politics it would not be an entirely new development but rather the latest episode in the long the cycle of Burmese political history” (McCarthy, 2008). Though the Generals managed to survive the greatest challenge to their rule was that by suppressing monks they lost legitimacy in a traditional Buddhist country. The protests of 2007 have altered the status quo and the military regime has been viewed in poor light by the international community. This has given rise to differences within the military regime and this may have longterm repercussions. There is also hope that the new military leaders may take the country towards democracy but “Myanmar will still face immense challenges in overcoming the debilitating legacy of decades of conflict, poverty and institutional failure, which fuelled the recent crisis and could well overwhelm future governments as well” (Asia Report, 2008) 3. Will China and India become partners in the years to come? What are the strengths and weaknesses of both nations? China and India are the two fastest growing economies in the world. They are also the biggest outsourcing hubs in the world. Both countries have their strengths and weaknesses and while a partnership would be mutually beneficial, China and India share a bitter border dispute and also a clash of interest in trying to expand their area of influence in Asia and Africa especially when it comes to resource procurement and energy security. “Trade between the two countries has grown very robustly. Each country's aggregate international trade is expanding by 23-24% annually. In comparison, India-China trade grew at a 50% rate during 2002-2006 and will increase by a further 54% during 2007 to reach $37 billion” (Gupta 2008). However border disputes over Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh continue to cast a long shadow over relation between the two Asian Giants. India is worried over China’s growing footprint in South Asia and also its unilateral claims on exploiting the South China Sea. China sees India’s growing proximity to the USA as a potential threat. Both countries have cooperated with each other on issues where their interests are similar such as climate change. However China has not yet backed India’s aspirations to be a permanent member of the Security Council as it views it as a threat to its dominance in Asia. Analysts as Gupta opine that “China already is (or will shortly become) India's number one trading partner. From China's side, India already is one of its top ten trading partners. Also, China's trade with India is growing much faster than with any of the other nine. Thus, India is rapidly becoming an increasingly important trading partner for China” (Gupta, 2008). So while there is tremendous scope for the two countries to become partners; but such an occurrence is subject to the resolution of underlying tensions between the two, and unless these are addressed, particularly over territorial disputes the chances of the two countries becoming partners seems remote. The two countries both have an advantage of trained human resource but India is much more capable of handling work and communications in many countries due to their skillful English speaking workforce. “China lags behind in communication, so their business houses and head offices are more concentrated in Hong Kong due to availability of English speaking work force” (Vij, 2009). China has cost advantage over India but its growth is quantity driven while India’s growth is quality driven. China is a totalitarian society and decision making is quick. India decision making is slow but being the largest democracy in the world it is more transparent. China has the largest cash reserves in the world at $3trillion and has emerged the lender of last resort. However the biggest advantage which India enjoys over China is that it has a judicial system which is universally recognized as being fair and independent whereas China’s judicial system remains suspect. Both countries however share a common weakness and that is rampant corruption. 4. What are the most urgent issues faced by the current leaders in Timor-Leste? Timor-Leste became independent from Indonesia in 1999 after years of struggle but the change to democracy has been full of challenges. The immediate issue of poverty alleviation has been tackled in a very uneven manner. The institutions of State, such as the army and the police services have not functioned in a manner that a democracy requires. In 2006 violence erupted after elements of the army from East and West Timor clashed over alleged discrimination. Violence spread throughout the country and prompted the UN to intervene. Consequently the Prime Minister had to resign. The leaders of the freedom movement who were united during the resistance now feel they have nothing in common. “One irony emerging from the current crisis is that while some within the Timorese resistance movement have become prominent and even award winning leaders, they are currently better known for their political rivalries and inability to co-exist” (Marc) Ameerah Haq, head of the United Nations Integrated Mission in Timor-Leste (UNMIT) said that “perhaps the greatest long-term challenges for Timor-Leste will be socio-economic,” citing the need to fight poverty, hunger, maternal and infant mortality, and improve access to health care and education.  It was essential that the Government redouble its effort to ensure that development benefits were felt equally in rural and urban areas, and she was pleased to note that the Government had demonstrated its renewed commitment to the Millennium Development Goals and coherent, transparent, coordinated and truly Timorese-owned planning processes”. After years of reliance on foreign aid the Government of Timor-Leste is taking pains to ensure the country becomes self reliant. Timor-Leste has been designated as the least developed country in the region and it is a major challenge to address the issues or poverty especially in the rural areas. According to Ustinia Dolgopol and Judith Gail Gardam (2006) “Timor- Leste faces three difficult systemic issues. Firstly there is a high dependence of the economy on external support and the need to broaden domestic production and service base to increase employment. Secondly they need to improve the efficiency of public expenditures and thirdly to consolidate the advice of international advisors”. The unemployment issue that haunts the country’s youth where 60% are below the age of 25 remains an issue that needs to be addressed on priority. However, the biggest challenge is to create sustainable democratic institutions and to maintain and environment of peace among its citizens. The need of the hour is to have a police force that is apolitical and impartial, an army that is professional and a government that is transparent and that is involved at the grass-root level. References: Aguswandi (2010) Overcoming the Challenges of an Islamic Democracy, An Indonesian Future in the Harvard International Review February 1, 2010 [online] available at http://hir.harvard.edu/big-ideas/an-indonesian-future?page=0,0 accessed [ November 1, 2011] Asia Report No 144 (2008). Burma/Myanmar: After the Crackdown, 31 January 2008 [online] available at http://www.crisisgroup.org/en/regions/asia/south-east-asia/burma-myanmar/144-burma-myanmar-after-the-crackdown.aspx accessed [ November 1, 2011] Baladas, G. (2004). (Ghoshal Baladas (Democratic transition and political development in post-Soeharto Indonesia, in Contemporary Southeast Asia, December 1, 2004 [0nline] available at http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-127352661.html accessed [November 1, 2011] Dolgopol, U. & Gardam, J.G. (2006). (Eds). The Challenge of Conflict: International Law Responds. (Leiden: Martinus Nijhoff Publishers (2006) 331-346 Economist, The. (2009). Indonesian Democracy: Beyond the Ccrossroads, April 2, 2009 [online] available at http://www.economist.com/node/13403041 accessed [November 1, 2011] Gil, S. (2008). The Role of Monkhood in Contemporary Myanmar Society, September 2008,on behalf of Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung [online] available at http://library.fes.de/pdf-files/iez/05699.pdf) accessed [ November 1, 2011] Gupta, A.K. (2008) The future of India-China Ttrade 14 Jan, 2008, 03.50AM IST, The Economic Times [online] available at http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/opinion/view-point/the-future-of-india china-trade/articleshow/2697720.cms accessed [ November 1, 2011] Mccarthy, S. (2008). Overturning the alms bowl: the price of survival and the consequences for political legitimacy in Burma Australian Journal of International Affairs Vol. 62, No. 3, pp. 298314, September 2008 [online] available at http://www.thebestfriend.org/wp-content/uploads/AlmsBowl.pdf) accessed [ November 1, 2011] Marc, S. (n.d). From Resistance to Independence Timor-Leste’s Leadership Challenge. CM partners Discussion paper no 1. [online] available at http://www.cmpartners.com/index/cms-filesystem-action?file=resources/timor-leste-leadership.pdf accessed [November 1, 2011] Security Council Report February 2010 [online] available from http://www.laohamutuk.org/reports/UN/UNDocs/2010/sc9866.htm) [November 1, 2011] Vij, S.D. (2009). China vs. India - Comparative analysis of their Strengths, Wednesday April 1, 2009 fibre2fashion [online] available at http://www.fibre2fashion.com/industry-article/18/1792/china-vs-india-comparative analysis-of-their-strengths1.asp accessed [November 1, 2011] Read More