Politics and Development in Asia

1. In what semi insurance policy-making consider is the create world truly develop, and in what signifi pilet split of it ar not? hash turn out and substantiate by giving examples (Focus Asia)In collar policy-making maturements in Asia, cosmos the mickle of the worlds to a lower placedeveloped nations, I begin this paper by facial expression at the historical maturements that institute for the to the steepest degree subdivision shaped and defined the Asiatic nations. to a greater extent(prenominal) signifi plentytly I focus on the southeastern Asian area of the celibate due to its diversity as substantially as the pervading regional cooperation that has channelly masked, if not impacted an opposite(prenominal) Asian countries during the geezerhood aft(prenominal) World War II. second I would draw three distinctions of how evolution nations ar truly develop with respects to three rattling semi semipolitical beas, principally the functions o f the g all overnment, the electoral limiting and the exp peerlessntiation of accomplished golf club. These three shots would focus on how maturation nations in Asia stir managed to progress politically afterwardward its nation was builded.Historical OverviewGeographically speaking the Asian untainted matchs 17 million squ bely kilometers and is home to a population of over 4 billion round number. In the last(prenominal) 60 or so eld it has bigly been host to over a dozen developing nations a great know(prenominal)(prenominal) as the Philippines, Malaysia, In dosia, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam and in like manner to progressive developing or developed nations as hygienic. This balance among developing and developed nations is attri fixlyed to the make up nonpareils minds and a bucolics experience to a lower place colonial rein in. During this era, Europeans believed that Asians were rangyly backward twain salubrious-disposedly and sparingally and save setd for the scotch enhancement of its pargonnt nation (Charskykh, 2005), more grandly the locals in these countries served the purpose of being the press force of their colonial masters. It was done this comminute and mixed instances of social, physical and mental dissimilarity that numerous of the Asian countries that had been colonized were pressure to revolt.This virtuoso of field of studyism, plain at its closely(prenominal) infantilestages (as seen in Philippine fellowship) had sustained to unite and unify the contrasting levels of edict to ordain political change that would assistance in the betterment of the acres. Revolution being the gas for political change in Asia has doed shelter the spread of independent governings, and it can too be s uphold that transmutation wasnt the and catalyst for the development of early political change in the region.It was during the events that occurred after World War IIthe frigidness Warthat bewilde r along changed the political decorate of the Asian region, the age of multi-polarity in Richard Haas article on The Age of Non-polarity (2008) draws a distinction that countries were further developed wherein might of twain sovereign nations (the United States and the USSR) answered m all Asian countries as a substance of spreading ideological and political attitudes among dissimilar countries. The age of non-polarity as considerably as the ca usage of the ice-cold War helped to consolidate and change the antithetic Asian countries political institutions, structures and the precise mechanisms, which ar straightforward in todays countries.Political DevelopmentIt can be said that countries in Asia, seeing from the events or circumstances that had shaped it historically, is seen as a progressive continent host to m whatever of the worlds developing nations. In recent days, Asia has compete a large social function in defining einsteinium-West traffic some(prenomin al) politically and economically. With the development lure and presence of chinaware, the world has turned its midriff on the eastern slew of the mapping and thus, this has helped to bring in numerous investments and interests to the region. However, disrespect this surge of regional interest, Asia still has m any issues to tackle, such(prenominal) as the intention of res publica and the democratization process that rise-nigh countries are sorely lacking, this is part and parcel to the organization of their regime, its role and function that should help and aid the battalion. secondly, the electoral process, which has served to gauge how democratized a field is to the point that it is willinging to progress. more(prenominal) significantly, the electoral processes in a developing rural area is frequently observed and watched because of how it affects the micklebeing themost basic right to political fight and prototypeand by large its set up on a republics rel ations with its Asian and inter home(a) neighbors. finally the participation of civil society, in any democratized nation, civil society work outs a sleep together role in laceing and promotion the issues that are important to the volume to the judicature activity. more(prenominal) than that, civil society has similarly played a role in disciplining the governance through and through its expose and oppose manoeuvre, tactics that obligate helped initiate change in the regimen through the passing of laws and repossesss that would value the basic rights of the citizens.Functions of the GovernmentAs mentioned in the beginning, Asian presidential terms being a direct product of independence from the de-colonization process or a product of a bi-polar world order are before long experience what political scientists call the trinity wave of democracy. This third wave accord to Samuel Huntington (1990) is essentially characterized by the loss of authenticity of unpopul ar regimes, a growth in economic output, changes in the Catholic perform regional contingency factors and outer factors (notably the cast of the European Union and the US). Huntingtons third base Wave of democracy enablight-emitting diode many another(prenominal) pertly independent countries to establish themselves in their region, much in the resembling steering the Philippines, India, Indonesia and Malaysia did after the Second World War and the concomitant years after. Moreover, because of the waves of democratization, these fledgling governments sought to establish their have national identity as intimately as strengthen its patrimony. so we see governments working to abolish and reform parts of their strategy from colonial square offs or vestiges of it. because, governments in Asia are functioning nevertheless to use the standards of many Hesperian nations, on that point are countries that are still in motive of further development. Governments in this contin ent are developing in the sense that immediately after their independence they had begun instituting change, the going of laws that would be favorable to its people and not to its foreign neighbors or causality colonial masters. More importantly, it was the passing of their own temper, which bodily their own ideals and aspirations. also that being a parliamentary country, governments put one across taken into effect the very thing that they werent able to clear under colonial receive, their rights and privileges. Like any other participatory country, the government as well as its weapon systemes is tasked with the preservation of their percentages basic human, political and social rights. Moreover the governments of Asia during this third wave of democratization have largely distanced itself from the use of its legions to coerce the people into action at law, as seen in the case of the political upheavals in Indonesia, Malaysia and even the Philippines that help restore civilian rule and enact legislation that places all decision-making processes of the forces under civilian position.Hence, the role of the government and its development in the political landscape of Asia is essentially characterized by the waves of democracy that had followed after numerous political and social upheavals that had happened in the region that had allowed for democracy to proper. Moreover, the political development of Asia is largely attri only whened to the national identity that had been make prior to their independence as well as the belief that civilian authority should pervade in all aspects of the government structure.Electoral ProcessesThe electoral process of Asia and by large any popular country for that enumerate has been part and parcel of alter the democratization of any country. More importantly the electoral processes is seen as the establishment and legitimizing of a government that would adhere to the standards of different political watchdogs, media and Western governments that have investments in a fussy Asian country.Electoral process as a measure of political development in developing nations usually stems from the desire to replete some of the promises of democracy or change the democratic landscape to as fill the problem of diminished and failed expectations of democracy as embodied in Mark rabbit warrens article on democratic participation (p. 679, 2002), drawing from theexperiences from the Asian countries such as Thailand democracy through its elections has failed to point of reference the postulate of its people. This has led to the disillusionment or disenfranchisement of voters that have led citizens to croak little of their government.Elections in Southeast Asian countries strengthen the political participation of different levels of society by allowing greater sectoral participation as well as the existence of fellowship-list systems that pop the unbelief to bridge the breach betwixt the governme nt and civil society itself. More importantly elections are a way for allowing a wide- target of issues and platforms of dialogues to be tackled and speaked so as to initiate reform and change indoors a system that a citizen may no longer believe in. It is because of this most basic political aspect that citizens are duly seated to create an milieu that would allow them greater representation and for their issues to be heard because the electoral processes in any democratic country is an avenue for change. complaisant SocietyThrough the feats of electoral processes in developing nations, civil society also plays a larger role in the development of democracies in the continent. Civil society is the representation of the people to the government they serve as the platforms of dialogues as well as the source of political lobbying and confrontation. such as the case in Myanmar where various civil separateings protested against government action levied by the military junta aga inst Aung San Suu Kyi, in china the protestation of their freedom to express themselves freely has been an issue that had led to the pullout of some international companies that had censured their content.Besides these all too known modes of political confrontation, civil society also lobbies for issues that marginalize a authorized group of people. They represent and voice out the concerns of societies that the government may have neglected to address. Secondly civil society also exposes and opposes those people in the establishment of their crimes. Governmental crimes that ramble on from graft and corruption to other irregularities in the system that seek to create contrast or those that would benefit only a certain individual or group of people that would directly benefit from sucha malfeasance.Another aspect of civil society in Asia is that it is vivacious, in the sense that these groups are everlastingly vigilant of the governments locomotements, procedures and every mi nute detail that would affect the people. One could say that the government cannot move without some group or party noticing it. Because of this vibrancy there is a wider range of perspectives and opinions that the government has to address to allow par and participation of the people and the groups that represent their interests.ConclusionPolitically speaking, the developing nations in Asia are truly developing albeit at a slow pace, however these countries face numerous problems such as the preponderance of cacique democracy, patron-client kinships, the festering relative incidence of graft and corruption as well as the lack of accountability and transparency. Besides these institutional problems, Asian countries are busy to act utilise means that would question the legitimacy of a government (i.e. plurality ply revolutions both in the Philippines and Indonesia).Thirdly, political developments in an Asian country has only helped to serve the elites of society by creating l aws that would greatly benefit them or help them mystify in power. And lastly there is the proliferation of political dynasties and the existence of bureaucratic powers that have peculiar(a) the progression of democracy and equality in the government. 2. Are the main political foreshortens experienced by the developing world in recent decades summed up best by increasing diversity or or else ontogenesis convergence? Discuss extensively (Focus Asia).In todays globalized world, political trends have been largely varied in different parts of the world, even each of these trends have helped in the establishment of ironlike governments and a vibrant civil society. The maturation political trend of todays developing world is the use of media as a platform of dialogue and garnering a wider influence that spans not just local barely international borders as well.Secondly, the sudden onward motion of baneism and the increase of regional and global earnest at the onset of the twe nty-first light speed, has made steady grounds in the discussion of what couldand should be done to address political upheaval brought about by the events of September 11, 2001 in the United States. Thirdly, the further strengthening of regional and international economic and political cooperation, with respects to chinaware, Singapore and lacquer as emerging economies of the 21st century and how this has affected Western influences in the continent.MediaAs mentioned preferably in my introduction, one of the prevailing political trends of the developing world is the use of mediain all its formsto further the cause of both civilian and the government. In this highly globalized world, the media is at the forefront of providing in constitution that would either help or discredit a politician or the government. In recent years, the prevalence of media in all aspects of society was seen through the formation of websites designed for greater interaction (Web 2.0) that allows ordinar y people to post, comment or critique on issues that are miles apart.During the 2008 US elections, media helped to bolster the presence of candidates running for the judicature, using new technologies that allowed ordinary peoples opinions and questions to be heard and also to appreciate these candidates based on their answers. Hence, in Zallers paper titled A speculation of Media Politics (1999)For politicians, the intention of media governance is to use mass communication to mobilize the existence support they need to win elections and to get their programs enacted while in office. For journalists, the goal of media governing is to produce stories that attract big audiences and that emphasise the Independent and Significant Voice of Journalists. For citizens, the goal is to monitor politics and hold politicians accountable on the basis of minimal stew.Another instance of the use of media to change or forward opinion and gallery was during the elections in Iran that were h eavily critical of Mahmoud Ahmadinejads re-election to the presidency of Iran. His re-election served as a catalyst for media and the lucre to react and criticize whatthe public perceive as the massive fraud and adversity of elections that was happening. On Myanmar, during the events that led to the arrest of an American that had trespassed opposition attracters Aung San Suu Kyis home led to a media force that called for the violation of human rights of both the leader and the American.Thus, media as a political trend is vastly critical in denouncing governmental actions that it perceives as the limitation of political straw man (freedom of speech and expression) as well the shelter and promotion of issues that span borders. It is evident that through the Internet and other forms of media that political issues are now known globally, that one portion of the world can already actively participate in issues that are important to them.Security and TerrorismEven before the event s of September 11, 2001 terrorism and credentials in the developing world, specifically the Southeast Asian region of the world, had been experiencing increasingly high levels of terrorist activities due in part to the movement of terrorist cells that had existed during the height of the Cold War and after the fall of Communism in 1991 led to the establishment of different Muslim terrorist groups in Central Asia then would later branch out to the different regions of Southeast Asia. match to Ambassador Alfonso T. Yuchengco in his speech titled Islamist Terrorism in Southeast Asia (2003) he mentions that the movement of these splinter groups led to the formation of the Jemaah Islamiyah terrorist cell which has been operating in different parts of Southeast Asia such as Indonesia, Pakistan and the Philippines.The terrorist group has played a large part in redefining interior(a) security in the region due to its attacks pastime the events of 9-11 such as the 2002 Bali Bombings and other campaigns of terror done by the JI in Indonesia,. More importantly, Yuchengco stressed on the growing problem that this groups are privately expert and funded by shopping centre-Eastern groups such as the Al Qaida network. This has led to a crackdown of terrorist and activist groups as well as the pressuring of the United States of various(prenominal) SEA governments to crackdown on suspected militant groups, individuals and organizations (Vaughn, B., et al, 2009).Regional and International CooperationWith the bulk of developing nations backbreaking in the Asian regions as well the various emerging economies in Asia, it is evident and imperative that one of the political trends in developing nations is the bolstering of regional and international cooperation both economically and politically.The bolstering of these two types of cooperation is vastly seen in the scope of Foreign Policy goals as both milieu and direct national goals. Milieu in the sense that these Asian nat ions are doing not for the self-interest of their country but rather nations pursuing them are out not to map or increase possessions they hold to the exclusion of others, but aim instead at shape conditions beyond their national boundaries. And secondly, direct national goals those that focus on national dependence, or national/collective security or the enhancement of trade relations and negations amidst two different nation-states (Wolfers, A., 1962).Regional and International cooperation has since become a trend due to the growing number of emerging and so-called tiger Economies that have helped attract the interests of Western nations in the continent, this has helped to bring in foreign direct investments. More importantly the cooperation isnt just focused primarily on nation-states economic agreements with one another but also the existence of international NGOs aimed at developing different parts of developing countries. These NGOs sole purpose is to help achieve sustaina ble development and provide livelihood and to help alleviate poverty and bridge the gap between the rich and the poor (Todaro, M., 2008).Increasing deflection or Alternatively Growing ConvergenceFrom the effects of globalization it is evident that the through the political trends of the media, security and terrorism, and regional and international cooperation among developing and developed nation-states there is an alternatively growing convergence. Through the events pastime the end of the Cold War as well as numerous political upheavals in Asian and European countries that have led to countries being democratized, there is a convergence of political trends.Convergences in the sense that the factorsmentioned earlier have been able to establish significant changes in the internal political structures of a country, which have ultimately affected its relations with its next countries. This convergence of political trends enables countries to share the same ideas and perspectives re garding key issues that would help or empower their country and other countries as well. Because of the strengthening of key issues, there are greater levels of cooperation and dialogue that helps in the advancement of kinships between nation-states.3. Identify and discuss the internal (domestic) and remote factors that contributed to the democratization of a developing world. later on identifying, discuss the comparative immenseness of both factors in the process of democratization. (Focus 1 Asian country).PhilippinesThe Philippines has long been considered to be the bastion of democracy in the Asian continent, moreover it is also its oldest democratic country. In nearly a century, the Philippines has progressed democratically internally through the following aspects democratic transitions after Marcos regime, the existence of intact reforms. On the other hand the external factors that contributed to the democratization of the developing world are the Philippines relations wit h former(prenominal) communist countries and its human relationship with the Muslim countriesInternal FactorsInternally, the Philippines contributed to the democratization of the world by showing exactly how it transitioned democratically from an high-and-mighty regime to that of a democratic one. It was the events of raft Power I and thereafter that showed how much progress the Philippines had made during its darkest days. The passel Power revolution showed that when the government becomes a problem, as specified in some of the categories when a democratic government is no longer a democratic one when its people has lost its trust on the government, it destroys the fellowship order and many more.Thesedistinctions helped to unify the people to action because of the belief that democracy should achieve and meet the expectations of its people. In the context of Philippine society, Marcosian rule helped to create a vibrant civil society hence Clifton Sherrill (2006 p. 224) state s, the need for such groups is critical given the alive social order.Because the traditional elites dominate society, only through mass organization can the lower class establish an sounding political view, in this didactics it was evident that political participation by the people were severely limited. In any democratic country, civil society allows for the people to voice out their concerns, that Mark rabbit warren (2002 p. 681) states that when the government has failed to realize the promises it had set out to fill, the citizens become critical of their government, thus the establishment is seen as incompetent, untrustworthy, and even corrupt.More importantly civil society drawing their experiences from the martial(a) Law period has opted to stay on the streets, since civil society is composed of different groups each with varying opinions these groups have systematically played a crucial role in mobilizing civil society to defend the democratic transition and to check su percilious tendencies on the part of political elites (Eaton, K., 2003, p. 487). Hence it can be concluded that from our experiences under Marcos rule we have managed to create a democracy that is more critical and attentive of the movement of the government. It is able to discernAnother aspect of democratic transitions after Marcos rule are the underlying reforms enacted, mainly the public of a multi-party/party-list system and the safeguards embodied in the constitution against authoritarian tendencies. Firstly the 1987 Philippine constitution allowed and introduced supply that were designed to widen democratic aloofness and allow for greater participation of other sectors in Philippine society and more importantly the inception of the party-list law was to serve as the mechanism for proportional representation in the different marginalized sectors of society (Teehankee, n.d. p. one hundred eighty p. 182).Through the introduction of such a provision, this allowed for greater civic participation of the people, the allowing of different marginalized groups help to put key issues of concerns such as development, rights and those that have minimal representation or who have no voice in society (i.e. theunborn). On the other hand, the framers of the constitution also included specific portions in the constitution that would limit the powers of the president and the military. whatever of the basic safeguards is the often cited principle of checks and balances but more than that, the constitution also implement provisions such as the settlement of martial law with the concurrence of the congress, the earth of the Sandiganbayan to curtail graft and corruption indoors the government (De Leon, H., 2001).External FactorsExternally the Philippines has contributed to the democratization of developing countries by pursuing a foreign policy that is reciprocally full to both parties. In this portion of the paper I will be discussing how the Philippines in a span of 50 years or so years has admited diplomatic and democratic relations between Islamic countries and former Communist countries. These external relations done by the Philippines shows how democracy has helped the country establish important economic and political linkages with many of the worlds fledgling democracies and maintain cordial relations with international organizations with regards to its own internal conflicts. I begin by looking at the Philippines and its relation with the Islamic countries, then by looking at the Philippines and its relations with a communist country, particularly that of China.The Philippines and the Islamic countries relationship has long been a colorful one, it stems from the Philippines relations with other Islamic nations. A relationship that had relied heavily on global interdependency in the Middle East, due to the large supply of crude oil in the region, the need to expand the markets of the Philippines, and the growing number of OFWs in the region (Wadi, J., 1998). It was because of these key factors that the Philippines has remained strong diplomatic relations with the other Islamic countries, this type of relationship was geared towards a mutual interdependence both financially and economically. However, the Philippines had also play a significant role with regards to its special relationship with the United States.This relationship with the US as well as their influence over the Philippines foreign policy had change other countries, particularly Pakistan after the creation of the Israeli state in1948. It was only in 1973 during the Arab oil boycott that the Philippines embarked on an unprecedented diplomatic offensive to recognize almost twenty countries in the Islamic world in the 70s. This form of action helped to bolster the presence of the Middle East not just in the Asian continent but also help in the growth of their presence in the Southeast Asian region. The pursuit of mutual interdependence is largely seen as an effort to democratize relations between former colonial countries as well as to establish strong cultural and economical linkages that would help the Philippines in tackling many of its internal problems, notably the conflicts in Mindanao.The second aspect is the relationship of the Philippines with other communist countries notably the Peoples land of China (PRC) during the 1970s when it was advocating for the implementation of the One China Policy in the UN. The relationship of the two countries are strongly linked with our earlier form-only(prenominal) diplomatic relations with the Republic of China (ROC) or Taiwan, during the height of the Cold War, the Philippines had maintained a decisively strong anti-communist stance and thus resolved to deal mostly with Taiwan, which at the time was the duly-recognized Chinese country.Our foreign relations with the ROC (due in part to the influence of Americans) were primarily focused on maintaining a strategic military advanc ement at bottom the region as well as the curtailing of the spread of communism within the region. However, much in the same way that the 1973 Arab oil boycott affected the country, under the presidency of Marcos, the country began establishing more formal diplomatic relations with the PRC. A relationship that was to help the Philippines sustain growth by accepting oil shipments from them in substitution for the PRC to import Philippine products such as coconut oil, lumber sugar, strapper ore, and other metals. Hence in the years that followed, even after the fall of communism, the countrys relationship with China has been economically and culturally focused (Lim, B., 1998).Comparative ImportanceThe comparative importance of the two factors is seen in their reciprocationtowards one another. In the context of Philippine politics and society, internally we face numerous problems that baffle our growth and development, especially after numerous political and social upheavals that h ave constantly marred our progress and image towards other Asian nations. However, through the enactment of certain reforms internally, we are thereby creating a political landscape bereft of anomalies and other discrepancies that would differently hinder the maturation of the countrys political system.It was because of the events of Martial Law and the People Power Revolution during the early 70s and the late 80s that we have managed to transform the country into one that is highly critical of the actions of the government and yet allow it to function within the rule of the civilians as opposed to the rule of the military. More importantly, through the advancement of civic participation within the country, the Philippines is able to garner a wider perspective and opinion on the issues that it needs to tackle. By creating a strong society, the country is able to externally project itself as able to handle different and vital political relations that would be beneficial to the estab lishment of a stronger society both politically and economically.