Beyond Democracy in Cambodia: Political Reconstruction in a Post-Conflict Society

by Sean Turnell, Mona Lilja

Overview

An important study of contemporary Cambodia and the tension between the needs or reconstruction and those of democratization.

For more than three decades Cambodia lived with civil war and genocide. After the 1991 peace agreement, major reconstruction efforts and UN-supervised elections in the 1990s, it was hoped that the ravages of the past could be repaired. Instead, one political crisis after another has ensued. And to the extent that some political stability has emerged, seemingly this has been won at the expense of democracy. Moreover, reconstruction efforts appear to be at odds with processes of liberal democratization.

This volume, written by a broad mix of Khmer and non-Khmer researchers, is the first study to assess the post-conflict democratization process in Cambodia in a systematic and in-depth empirical way. In going beyond a one-dimensional view of democracy, the full complexity of this process is illuminated. Not only does the volume focus on the successes and failures of Cambodia's political elite but also it looks beyond Cambodia, assessing the extent to which the globally applied post-conflict strategy of intervention followed by early elections-hoping for rapid democratization-is sustainable and progressive.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9788776940430
Publisher:	Nordic Institute of Asian Studies
Publication date:	09/01/2009
Series:	Democracy in Asia , #12
Edition description:	New
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	5.90(w) x 8.90(h) x 0.80(d)

Table of Contents

Preface and Acknowledgements ix

Contributors xi

Abbreviations|xiv

1 Beyond Democracy in Cambodia. Political Reconstruction in a Post-Conflict Society? Joakim öjendal Mona Lilja 1

2 Reconstructing Legitimate Political Authority through Elections? Caroline Hughes 31

3 The Judicial System and Democratization in Post-Conflict Cambodia Kheang Un 70

4 Decentralization as a Strategy for State Reconstruction in Cambodia ? Kim Sedara Joakim öjendal 101

5 Globalization, Women's Political Participation and the Politics of Legitimacy and Reconstruction in Cambodia Mona Lilja 136

6 The Political Economy of Aid and Regime Legitimacy in Cambodia Sophal Ear 151

7 (Re)Creating Local Political Legitimacy through Governance Intervention? Malin Hasselskog 189

8 Cambodian Religion since 1989 John Marston 224

9 Re-establishing Legitimacy through the Extraordinary Chambers in the Courts of Cambodia Laura McGrew 250

10 The Never-Ending Hunt for Political Legitimacy in a Post-Conflict Context Mona Lilja Joakim Öjendal 297

Index 313

Table

6.1 Royal Government of Cambodia Aid Requests, Donor Pledges and Disbursements 161