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Abstract
Recent democratic transitions in Southeast Asia raise the question as to how we should theorize the relationship between democratization and foreign policy. Many scholars assume that more ‘democratic’ Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) members pursue more ‘liberal’ policies than their less-democratic counterparts, but surprisingly little theoretical work investigates the connection. This article argues that such investigations tend to crumble under close scrutiny. Instead, it offers an alternative framework based on an analysis of how different socio-economic interests contend to shape foreign policy in ASEAN states and how these interests are able to organize politically to impose their preferences. The case study of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Myanmar Caucus, a regional network of legislators campaigning for liberal-interventionist policies on Myanmar, shows how it is these forces, and not the mere presence or absence of formally democratic institutions, that govern the political space available to those seeking to transform ASEAN states' policies.
Notes
1 I would like to thank Garry Rodan, Hiro Katsumata and three anonymous reviewers for very helpful comments on earlier drafts.
2 For details of the AIPMC's positions and activities, see < http://www.aseanmp.org>.
3 Interview with Teresa Kok, Democratic Action Party (DAP) legislator (Malaysia), Kuala Lumpur, 27 January 2008.
4 Interview with Charles Chong, PAP legislator (Singapore), Singapore, 12 February 2008.
5 Interview with Nursyahbani Katjasungkana, New Awakening Party legislator (Indonesia), Jakarta, 6 February 2008.
6 Interview with Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Keadilan party legislator (Malaysia), Kuala Lumpur, 24 January 2008.
7 Interview with Son Chhay, Sam Rainsy Party (SRP) legislator (Cambodia), 23 July 2008.
9 Interview with Son Chhay, SRP legislator (Cambodia), 23 July 2008.
8 In 2005, foreign aid constituted 112.6 per cent of Cambodian government expenditure (World Bank Citation2007, 348).
10 Interview with Son Chhay, SRP legislator (Cambodia), 23 July 2008.
11 Interview with Son Chhay, SRP legislator (Cambodia), 23 July 2008.
12 Interview with Teresa Kok, Democratic Action Party (DAP) legislator (Malaysia), 27 January 2008.
13 Interview with Teresa Kok, DAP legislator (Malaysia), 27 January 2008.
14 Interview with Charles Chong, PAP legislator (Singapore), 12 February 2008.
15 Interview with Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Keadilan party legislator (Malaysia), 24 January 2008.
16 Interview with Teresa Kok, DAP legislator (Malaysia), 27 January 2008.
17 Interview with Debbie Stothard, AltSEAN-Burma Coordinator, Bangkok, 29 January 2008.
18 Interview with Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Keadilan party legislator (Malaysia), 24 January 2008.
19 Interview with Wan Azizah Wan Ismail, Keadilan party legislator (Malaysia), 24 January 2008.
22 Interview with Kraisak Choonhavan, (Thailand) 29 January 2008.
20 Interview with Kraisak Choonhavan, (Thailand), Bangkok, 29 January 2008. Under Thaksin, Kraisak was an independent senator. He is now the Democrats' deputy leader.
21 Interview with Kraisak Choonhavan, (Thailand) 29 January 2008.
23 Interview with Kraisak Choonhavan, (Thailand), 29 January 2008.
24 Interview with Kraisak Choonhavan, (Thailand), 29 January 2008.
25 Interview with Kraisak Choonhavan, (Thailand), 29 January 2008.
26 Interview with Dr Djoko Susilo, National Mandate Party legislator, Jakarta, 6 February 2008.
27 Interview with Dr Djoko Susilo, National Mandate Party legislator, Jakarta, 6 February 2008. These constitutional powers were apparently never intended to be used in such fashion by the oligarchic elites who designed them (Ziegenhain Citation2008, 151).
28 Interview with Dr Djoko Susilo, National Mandate Party legislator, Jakarta, 6 February 2008.
29 Interview with Nursyahbani Katjasungkana, National Awakening Party legislator (Indonesia), 6 February 2008.
30 In fact, as this article was going to press, official election results revealed that both Djoko Susilo and Nursyahbani Katjasungkana had lost their seats in the 2009 general elections as their parties suffered heavy losses to President Yudhoyono's Democratic Party: < http://www.kpu.go.id/dmdocuments/DPR.pdf>. This is a serious blow to the Indonesian caucus. Moreover, if, as expected, Yudhoyono is re-elected to the presidency, his control of the legislature is likely to be greatly enhanced. Should his Myanmar policy continue this would seem to reflect the pertinence of factors other than parliamentary activism.
31 Interview with Nursyahbani Katjasungkana, National Awakening Party legislator (Indonesia), 6 February 2008.
32 Interview with Nursyahbani Katjasungkana, National Awakening Party legislator (Indonesia), 6 February 2008.
33 Interview with Loretta Rosales, AIPMC Senior Adviser and former Akbayan Party Congresswoman, 7 August 2008.
34 Interview with Loretta Rosales, AIPMC Senior Adviser and former Akbayan Party Congresswoman (Philippines), 7 August 2008.
35 Interview with Loretta Rosales, AIPMC Senior Adviser and former Akbayan Party Congresswoman, 7 August 2008.
