The dual type of military regime and relative levels of stability in military rule in Thailand, Indonesia and Burma

Abstract

This thesis looks at stability of military rule in Southeast Asia, specifically questioning why military rule in Burma (Myanmar) and Indonesia has been so stable when compared with the relative instability of military rule in Thailand. The thesis suggests that one possible explanation for the comparative stability in Indonesia and Burma in comparison to Thailand is the presence of what Finer calls the dual rule type of military regime in Indonesia and Burma. The central argument of this thesis is that a prima facie case can be made that a possible explanation for the presence of long term stability in military rule in Burma and Indonesia as compared to the relative lack of stability in Thailand is the presence of the dual type of regime in Burma and Indonesia, but not in Thailand. In the first chapter the types of military regimes, including dual rule, are defined. In defining dual rule each significant term used by Finer is discussed, his own examples of dual rule are critically examined, and it is argued that certain modifications can be made to his concept. In the second chapter stability is defined and it is shown that there was no long term stability or dual rule in Thailand. In the third chapter it is shown that dual rule and long term stability have both been present in Indonesia since 1971. In the fourth chapter it is shown that dual rule was present in Burma during the long term stability beginning in 1962 and ending in 1988. There is also an examination in this chapter of military rule during and since 1988 to confirm that the absence of dual rule has been accompanied by an absence of long term stability in military rule. In the fifth chapter there is a comparison of the length of stability in Burma, Indonesia and Thailand, a comparison of dual rule in Burma and Indonesia, and a brief discussion of the credibility of a correlation existing in Burma and Indonesia between dual rule and long term stability. In the conclusion the possibilities for further study of this correlation in greater depth (in Southeast Asia) and in greater breadth (on a global scale) are discussed.