Coups and post-coup politics in South-East Asia and the Pacific: conceptual and comparative perspectives

The 2006 coups in Fiji and Thailand—as well as the 2012 incident in Papua New Guinea—have sent timely reminders that military coups remain a threat to vulnerable democracies in South-East Asia and the Pacific. This article explores the interplay between structural factors that can create coup risks,...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Croissant, Aurel (Author)
Format: Article (Journal)
Language:English
Published: 20 May 2013
In: Australian journal of international affairs
Year: 2013, Volume: 67, Issue: 3, Pages: 264-280
ISSN:1465-332X
DOI:10.1080/10357718.2013.788121
Online Access:Verlag, lizenzpflichtig, Volltext: https://doi.org/10.1080/10357718.2013.788121
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Author Notes:Aurel Croissant
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Summary:The 2006 coups in Fiji and Thailand—as well as the 2012 incident in Papua New Guinea—have sent timely reminders that military coups remain a threat to vulnerable democracies in South-East Asia and the Pacific. This article explores the interplay between structural factors that can create coup risks, the ‘coup-proofing’ strategies of political leaders and the occurrence of military coups. While the article examines the region as a whole, it pays particular attention to Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Indonesia, Fiji and Papua New Guinea. Borrowing from the work of Belkin and Schofer, it argues that the level of coup risk in each country can be assessed by analysing the extent of regime legitimacy, the strength of civil society and the frequency of military coups in the past. By combining this analysis with an evaluation of coup-proofing strategies, the study discusses likely scenarios for the five focus countries as far as the likelihood of coups or, alternatively, the establishment of stable civilian control is concerned.
Item Description:Gesehen am 19.03.2021
Physical Description:Online Resource
ISSN:1465-332X
DOI:10.1080/10357718.2013.788121