ABSTRACT
This book offers a timely analysis of the tripartite links between the middle class, civil society and democratic experiences in Northeast and Southeast Asia. It aims to go beyond the two popular theoretical propositions in current democratic theory, which emphasise the bilateral connections between the middle class and democracy on one hand and civil society and democracy on the other. Instead, using national case studies, this volume attempts to provide a new comparative typological interpretation of the triple relationship in Taiwan, South Korea, the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand. Presenting a careful analysis and delineation of historical democratic transformation over the past thirty years, three discernible typologies emerge. Namely, there are positive links in Taiwan and South Korea, dubious links in the Philippines and Indonesia, and negative links in Thailand.
Middle Class, Civil Society and Democracy in Asia will be of interest to students and scholars of Asian politics and democracy.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
part I|20 pages
Overview
chapter 1|18 pages
Comparing the tripartite links of middle class, civil society and democratization in Asia
part II|58 pages
The positive links in Taiwan and South Korea
chapter 2|16 pages
The tripartite links of middle class, civil society and democracy in Taiwan
chapter 3|22 pages
Democracy and institution building through civil society activism in Taiwan
part III|68 pages
The dubious links in the Philippines and Indonesia
part IV|61 pages
The negative links in Thailand