New normal” no more

Democratic backsliding in Singapore after 2015

Dados Bibliográficos

ID6253544
AutoresWalid Jumblatt Abdullah (0000-0002-7889-5532, Nanyang Technological University, autor correspondente)
Ano2020
Volume27
Fascículo7
Páginas1123-1141
Data de publicação2020-10-02
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessNão
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoDemocratization (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1351-0347 • E-ISSN: 1743-890X
EditoraInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/13510347.2020.1764940
OpenAlexW3026213959
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas13
Referências citadas49

After the “watershed” General Elections (GE) in 2011, Singapore seemed primed for greater democratization. The ruling People’s Action Party (PAP) adopted a softer tone, and promised an expansion of the political space. Yet, after the subsequent GE in 2015, in which the PAP attained a much higher share of the votes in a resounding victory, there is an apparent democratic backsliding. Academics have been publicly censured by state leaders, legislation has been passed to strengthen the coercive capacity of the state, and dissenters have faced draconian measures. This paper investigates the reversal of democratization in Singapore, post-2015. I contend that after garnering a high level of political capital in GE 2015, the PAP reverted to its more familiar authoritarian stratagem. This was possible because of two main reasons: (1) the absence of a strong and coherent opposition which has enough credibility with the voters to cause a serious dent in the PAP’s electoral success; and (2) the absence of genuine reformers within the party to push through the agenda of democratization. Comparisons with Malaysia and the recent success of the opposition in a similar political system will be made. Broader lessons on the conditions under which authoritarianism is strengthened will also be noted

Authoritarianism · Credibility · Democracy · Democratization · Development economics · Economics · Opposition (politics · Political economy · Political science · Politics · Sociology · Victory · Asian Studies and History · Hong Kong and Taiwan Politics · Law · Socioeconomic Development in Asia