ABSTRACT
Crony capitalism is a phrase much used since 1997 to describe business in Southeast Asia. Yet there remains something unsatisfactory about commentary on it. Crony capitalism has been derided—justifiably—but perhaps too easily, without a thorough understanding of the forces behind it. Much of the lack of understanding has to do with news reports on the matter. The problem is that too many commentators have no real idea of what it means to run a business in Southeast Asia. Too many descriptions of crony capitalism’s venality, as such, are trite; you don’t have to go too far out on a limb to opine against it.
