Rethinking parties in democratizing Asia / edited by Julio C. Teehankee and Christian Echle.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

Introduction: Taking a Second Look at Asian Political Parties -- In the Name of Minjoo: Roles of Pro-Democracy Parties in Democratic Transition and Progress in South Korea -- The Effects of the Changing National Identity of the Taiwanese People on the Party Politics of Taiwan -- Party Politics and the Unexpected Democratization in Mongolia -- Electoral Rules Effect: Explaining the Party System Stability in Democratic Indonesia -- Neither Poorly Organized, Nor Well Established: Conceptualizing and Exploring the Dynamics of Moderately Institutionalized Hybrid Party System in Malaysia -- Party-Movement Interaction in a Contested Democracy: The Philippine Experience -- Transforming Ethno-Regional Parties in Northeast India -- Sri Lanka's Bipolarized Multiparty System: Democratizing the Selection of Rulers, not their Rule -- Conclusion: Movements, Parties, and Asian Democracies Against the Odds.

"Looking at eight case studies of Asian democracies, the contributors to this volume analyze the role of political parties in stabilizing and institutionalizing democracies. How have democracies such as Indonesia, Sri Lanka and the Philippines survived against the odds, despite struggling economic performance and highly unequal distribution of income? How have formerly authoritarian regimes in places like South Korea and Taiwan evolved into stable democracies? The contributors to this volume examine these case studies, along with Mongolia, Malaysia and India, arguing that the common element is the extent to which political parties, including opposition parties, have become institutionalized and act as stabilizers on democracy. They contend that the role of political parties has been significantly underestimated in comparison with structural elements, which are insufficient to explain how these democracies have persisted. An essential resource for students and scholars of Asian politics, especially those with a focus on comparative politics, political parties and institutions"-- Provided by publisher.