Democratization or Oligarchic Restructuring? The Politics of Reform in Malaysia

In: Government & opposition: an international journal of comparative politics, Band 35, Heft 4, S. 520-546

Abstract

It is contended that the reformasi movement within Malaysian politics is a combination of democratization & oligarchic restructuring. An overview of the role of Anwar Ibrahim, a former official in the United Malays National Organization who was subsequently detained by the state, in the movement is presented; Ibrahim's political ideology is also reviewed. Although the reformasi movement adopted Ibrahim's understanding of social justice, it is asserted that several domestic & external factors gave strength to the movement, eg, Malaysia's increased reliance upon Japan & the West for certain resources. Despite his commitment to democratization, it is claimed that certain aspects of Ibrahim's philosophical beliefs support the reading of Malaysia's democratization as an oligarchic restructuring of the national political system. The prospects for a mass overthrow of the current government & of Ibrahim's ascendancy to prime minister are considered. J. W. Parker