Authoritarian Modernism in East Asia

1. Front Matter

   Pages i-xiii

   PDF

2. Introduction

   • Mark R. Thompson

   Pages 1-17

3. Discovering Authoritarian Modernism: Secrets of the State

   • Mark R. Thompson

   Pages 19-39

4. Becoming Authoritarian Modern: Escaping the Modernization Trap

   • Mark R. Thompson

   Pages 41-59

5. Learning Authoritarian Modernism: China’s “Singapore Model”

   • Mark R. Thompson

   Pages 61-75

6. Legitimizing Authoritarian Modernism: Reactionary Culturalism

   • Mark R. Thompson

   Pages 77-93

7. Conclusion

   • Mark R. Thompson

   Pages 95-104

8. Back Matter

   Pages 105-130

   PDF

Following Barrington Moore Jr., this book raises doubts about modernization theory’s claim that an advanced economy with extensive social differentiation is incompatible with authoritarian rule. Authoritarian modernism in East Asia (Northeast and Southeast Asia) has been characterized by economically reformist but politically conservative leaders who have attempted to learn the “secrets” of authoritarian rule in modern society. They demobilize civil society while endeavoring to establish an “ethical” form of rule and claim reactionary culturalist legitimation. With China, East Asia is home to the most important country in the world today that is rapidly modernizing while attempting to remain authoritarian.

• Asia
• East Asia
• human rights
• law
• Modernism
• social justice
• social science
• development policy

“This book does an excellent job of exploring the explanatory power of multiple theoretical frameworks such as modernism, democracy, and authoritarianism in East Asian political regimes. … This is a very informative and helpful addition to the existing scholarship on political economy and comparative politics in East Asia.” (Muhammad Hassan Bin Afzal, Democratization, November 11, 2019)

“The field has become increasingly crowded, but there is no doubt in my mind that Thompson’s latest book is one of the few that is a ‘must read.’ … we can be grateful to Thompson for this volume and look forward to seeing more of the same.” (Journal of Contemporary Asia, August 5, 2019)
“Thompson’s analysis of contemporary strategies to combine modernization and authoritarianism in East Asia is creative, stimulating and important. It offers valuable insights into when, where and why authoritarianism and economic growth might be mutually reinforcing, or prove untenable. A timely work indeed.” (Garry Rodan, Director, Asia Research Centre, Murdoch University, Australia)

“Mark Thompson’s Authoritarian Modernism in East Asia is a book worth reading not only for political scientists interested in comparative politics in East Asia, but for those who working on the modern history of the countries in this region. The author offers us here a clear outline of the domino effect of authoritarian modernism which spread through East and Southeast Asia, and came to characterize the region’s modern development. The author’s wide-ranging analysis is inspirational. His incisive historical insights open our eyes to the transnational connections which made East Asian modernism unique.” (Kazuhiro Takii, Professor, International Research Center for Japanese Studies, Japan)

“In the tradition of Barrington Moore, Mark Thompson traces authoritarian learning back to Meiji Japan and Imperial Germany [and shows how] China is actively ‘learning’ authoritarian modernism, emulating Singapore’s model. This ambitious and well-written book provides many important lessons for the future of authoritarianism in East Asia.” (Marco Bünte, Associate Professor, Politics and International Relations, Monash University Malaysia, Malaysia)

 

• Department of Asian and International Studies, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, Hong Kong

  Mark R. Thompson

Mark R. Thompson is Professor and Head, Department of Asian and International Studies and Director, Southeast Asia Research Centre, City University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR.

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