Author: Donald K. Emmerson | Journal of Democracy

Donald K. Emmerson heads the Southeast Asia Program at Stanford University. His latest publications include “Mapping ASEAN’s Futures” in Contemporary Southeast Asia (August 2017) and a chapter in The South China Sea Disputes (edited by Yang Razali Kassim, 2017).

April 2018, Volume 29, Issue 2

China in Xi’s “New Era”: Singapore and Goliath?

Donald K. Emmerson

Despite its tiny size, Singapore has shown that a firm stance can help to resist Chinese encroachment.

July 2013, Volume 24, Issue 3

Kishore’s World

Donald K. Emmerson

The widely hailed writings of Singapore’s Kishore Mahbubani, including his latest book, The Great Convergence: Asia, the West, and the Logic of One World, reveal a remarkably narrow and Manichean worldview.

April 2012, Volume 23, Issue 2

Southeast Asia: Minding the Gap Between Democracy and Governance

Donald K. Emmerson

Do democracy and good governance necessarily go hand-in-hand? In most Southeast Asian countries, a gap exists between the two. How should we understand good governance in an authoritarian context? And what does poor governance mean for the legitimacy of democracy?

July 2008, Volume 19, Issue 3

ASEAN’s “Black Swans”

Donald K. Emmerson

Can regionalism help to redress the uneven spread and internal weaknesses of democracy in Southeast Asia? Unforeseen events in the region and positive political entrepreneurship may yet transform ASEAN into a force for democracy.

January 2004, Volume 15, Issue 1

Indonesia’s Approaching Elections: A Year of Voting Dangerously?

Donald K. Emmerson

For this huge, sprawling nation in the throes of an ambiguous transition, 2004 will be a year replete with unprecedented electoral tests. In the end, leadership and results will probably count for more than rules and institutions, however carefully designed.

October 1999, Volume 10, Issue 4

Southeast Asia After the Crisis: A Tale of Three Countries

Donald K. Emmerson

Read the full essay here.

October 1995, Volume 6, Issue 4

Singapore and the “Asian Values” Debate

Donald K. Emmerson

Read the full essay here.

Democracy in East Asia: A New Century

Democracy in East Asia offers a comprehensive treatment of the political landscape in both Northeast and Southeast Asia, including discussions of China, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam, and Burma (Myanmar).