The Characteristics And Causes Of Democratization In Malaysia

After World War II, the political development of Malaysia is in keeping with the trend of Southeast Asia’s development, it can be divided into three stages, democracy-authoritarian- democracy. However, when we make a comparison between the Malaysia and democratic transition countries, as well as the non-transitioned countries in Southeast Asia, It can be concluded into several characters, such as compared with democratic transition countries, Malaysia’s governing party has stronger power inside, the course of democratization is more advanced so that it haven’t occurred party alternation, the society is more stable. While compared with those non-transitioned countries, Malaysia’s democratic level is higher than others; even it is recognized by west authoritative assessment system as democratic regime. Generally speaking, Malaysia’s governing party take the development of democracy to a higher level in his authoritarianism.The basic reason of Malaysia’s democracy is that after decades of economic development, middle class is growing in Malaysia, civil society is mature gradually, but opposition party become a interracial –race alliance, the whole destabilize legitimacy of governing party gradually,the opposition party become stronger and stronger. So far, UMNO remains in the hands of the central government’s power. In a large extent, a party as the main power for a long time in Malaysia relate to the political regime itself which is modern, complex, competitive, and comprehensive. Compared with countries has been democratic transitioned in Southeast Asia, Malaysia’s political regime has higher institutionalized level, within the system they improve the democracy to a advanced stage, which could adapt to the large changes of society and avoid regime transition and party alternation.