(Eagle News Service) — The rise of political dynasties is said to threaten the vibrancy of the political systems of the biggest democracies in Southeast Asia – Indonesia and the Philippines. This was according to an article from the East Asia Forum.
While political dynasties are not foreign to Indonesian democracy, this was somehow challened with the recent victory of President Joko Widodo, a former governor of Jakarta.
It has also been said that the rule of dynasties and the rule of entrenched families is common in the Malay world. Malaysia, the Philippines and Indonesia also have had their so-called “political royalties.” Singapore, according to a newspaper opinion column, is also presided over by a legacy prime minister.
There has yet to be a serious academic study on why legacy politics throbs and thrives in the region. In Philippine politics, political dynasties seem to be the rule instead of an exception.
In this episode of ASEAN in Focus (Nov. 26), Mr. Leon Flores, a former chairperson of the National Youth Commission, who is currently involved with the anti-political dynasty movement, tackles the issue of political dynasties in the ASEAN region, and if this is going to change with the ASEAN integration.
This series and the program ASEAN IN FOCUS of NET 25 (Monday to Friday, 2:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., with replays 11:00 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.) is part of Eagle Broadcasting’s advocacy to promote awareness about the ASEAN region and the 2015 ASEAN integration. ASEAN in Focus features news and other information about the ASEAN region and the ASEAN integration process, with interviews of noted resource persons who share their views about the ASEAN integration process.
ASEAN in Focus is hosted by Alma Angeles, Neah Mangawang and Rachel Martin. Dr. Carlos Tabunda Jr., an executive fellow of the Development Academy of the Philippines (DAP), is the program’s resident ASEAN resource person.