Towards a More Comprehensive Analysis of Warlord Politics

Constitutive Agency, Patron–Client Networks and Robust Action

Bibliographic Data

ID6233773
AuthorsPak Nung Wong (0000-0003-0657-2715, corresponding author), Wong Pak Nung
Year2008
Volume16
Issue2
Pages173-195
Publication date2008-08-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueAsian Journal of Political Science (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0218-5377 • E-ISSN: 1750-7812
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/02185370802204115
OpenAlexW2043932630
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited49

This article serves as a critique of a recent American foreign policy formulation proposing to eradicate ‘warlordism’ and asserting that democratic institutions can be directly created out of the post-eradication anarchic chaos. Against this background, recent years have indeed seen a bourgeoning literature on ‘warlord politics’ in Southeast Asia. The majority commonly portray political actors as faithful followers of economic rationality and self-interest. Therefore, most are conceived as selfish predators who ruthlessly use violence for private gains at the expense of public interest. By suggesting that comparative studies on warlordism have been heavily influenced by the political economy perspective, the article develops a more comprehensive analysis of warlord politics. Along the lines of patron–client network analysis, insights from moral economy and agency-structure sociological dualism are considered. Contrasting case studies are used to illustrate how the alleged warlords of Southeast Asia do not fit entirely into the political economy perspective. Caught in a vast patron–client network of competing interests and diverse powers across state and society, one's agency is constantly constituted by discursive arrays of contending interests, juxtaposing rationalities and multiple intentions. In state building, this complication is regarded as paradoxically necessary for compelling the alleged warlord-actor to re-define and elevate multiple private interests into public interest. Keywords: Agency-Structure DualismDiscursive SociologyInternational SecurityPatron–Client NetworksPolitical DevelopmentSoutheast AsiaWarlord Politics Acknowledgements This article would not be possible without a generous research grant from the City University of Hong Kong (Research Project No. 7200096). The author would like to thank Arnold Azurin, Aileen Baviera, Armando Malay, Jr. and Mathew Santamaria and other participants of the 2006 seminar at the Asian Center, University of the Philippines (Diliman), for encouraging this article. The following institutes are acknowledged for their support: The Centre of Asian Studies, University of Hong Kong; The Institute of Philippine Culture, Ateneo de Manila University, and The Yuchengco Center, De La Salle University (Manila). For comments and suggestions, heartfelt thanks should go to the two anonymous reviewers and the journal editor. Additional informationNotes on contributorsWong Pak NungPak Nung Wong, DPhil, is Assistant Professor at the Department of Applied Social Studies, City University of Hong Kong

Agency (philosophy · Democracy · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Rationality · Social science · Sociology · State (computer science · Labor Movements and Unions · Law · Social Policy and Reform Studies · Southeast Asian Sociopolitical Studies