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Paper 2 Essay
Forms of Governments
How independent Southeast Asian states governed themselves - from parliamentary democracy and guided democracy to military rule and authoritarianism, and the role of the superpowers.
By Country
- Burma - Ne Win's coup overthrew U Nu; 12 years of military rule followed; the 8888 uprising then overthrew Ne Win.
- Indonesia - Sukarno ran parliamentary democracy until the Permesta rebellion, then moved to Guided Democracy; Suharto's New Order used the military's Dwifungsi / ABRI role.
- Thailand - a 1976 coup; the US backed Prem.
- South Vietnam - US aid sustained Diem's authoritarian rule.
- Philippines - the US commonwealth under the 1934 Tydings-McDuffie Act; later People Power.
- Singapore and Malaysia adopted electoral democracy, shaped under British influence.
Communism and the Superpowers
The notes connect the forms of government to the Cold War.
- US anti-communist support propped up authoritarian regimes in South Vietnam (RVN), Indonesia, the Philippines, and Thailand.
- China supplied North Vietnam with about US$4-5 billion, and the USSR about US$2-3 billion.
- The National Liberation Front (NLF) won in Vietnam.