The nature of dual authority in Southeast Asia.
Issued Date
2006
Resource Type
Language
eng
Rights
Mahidol University
Suggested Citation
Jones, Eugene. (2006). The nature of dual authority in Southeast Asia.. Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/32881
Title
The nature of dual authority in Southeast Asia.
Author(s)
Other Contributor(s)
Abstract
Many of the nations of Southeast Asia that are moving towards greater
democracy have to deal with the phenomenon of dual authority. Dual
authority is the recognition by the people that there is a political
institution that commands respect and obedience in addition to the
government. In the monarchist nations of Thailand and Kampuchea, this
dual authority is vested in state and government. In the Socialist countries
of Vietnam and Laos, it is vested in party and government. In some other
states the extra governmental authority takes the form of a religious
institution.
Dual authority has the disadvantage of impeding political and economic
development in many cases. However, it has the advantage of providing a
structure that provides a check on excessive government power and that
the people can appeal to during times of political crises.
In this paper, I will examine the phenomenon of dual authority in
Southeast Asia in general. Then I will turn my attention to specific studies
of how this phenomenon is affecting the politics of Vietnam. I will argue
that the party provides a viable and just check on unbridled development
and consumerism there that would not be the case if authority were left to
government alone.
In concluding remarks, I will assess the relationship between party and
government and evaluate future possibilities.
Description
The 7th ASEAN Inter-University Seminar on Social Development at The Central Building of the Vietnam National University, Hanoi, Vietnam. (2006 July 19-21).