ABSTRACT
Western theoretical discussion of South-East Asian politics was in a single mould, in its early days, with the analysis of the politics of ‘developing areas’ or ‘new states’ generally. There was a characteristic assumption, after World War II, of the inevitability not only of economic development but of ‘political development’ as well – meaning development of ‘modern’, i.e. Western-type, State structures and, above all, democracy. These political phenomena were called ‘development’ partly, it seems, because they were seen as a consequence of economic development. Indeed, their presence or extent tended to be tested by the same, quantifying or statistical criteria.
