POL4465

A fundamental question of politics is why some regimes endure for many years while others do not. This course examines the "menu of manipulation" through which dictators and democrats claim and retain power, and the conditions under which average citizens mobilize to challenge their governments, despite the risks and in the face of what may seem to be insurmountable odds. We will explore these political dynamics in Southeast Asia, one of the most culturally and politically diverse regions of the globe. Composed of eleven countries, Southeast Asia covers a wide geographical region stretching from India to China. With a rich endowment of natural resources, a dynamic manufacturing base, and a strategic location on China's southern flank, the region has come to play an increasingly important role in the political and economic affairs of the globe. Culturally and ethnically diverse, hundreds of languages are spoken, and the religions practiced include Buddhism, Catholicism, Hinduism, and Islam. The region is similarly diverse in its political systems, which range from democratic to semi-democratic to fully authoritarian.

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