Movement leaders, oligarchs, technocrats and autocratic mavericks: Populists in contemporary Asia

Abstract

This chapter reviews the facets of populist experiences in Asia, and explores what they tell us about the global rise of populism. It provides a brief overview of the history of populism in Asia, highlighting the differences between the anti-colonial populists of the 1950s, the developmental populists of the 1960s to 1980s, and today's electoral populists. The chapter introduces the four case studies of India, Thailand, Indonesia and the Philippines, which each represent a distinct type of populism. The discussion documents disagreements among scholars over the interpretation of populism in Asia and its impact; while some view populism as a force of democratic, social renewal that can challenge old power networks, others underline the autocratic tendencies inherent in populism. Whether movement-based, maverick/oligarchic, technocratic or openly autocratic populists, they have promised to dismantle the status quo and institute a more people-oriented style of governance.