Courts, Politics, and Power in Southeast Asia

Although courts have become increasingly central to political life in the countries of Southeast Asia, there has been little scholarly exploration of the reasons for this development, or of its effects. This research project will constitute the first major comparative historical study of courts and politics in Southeast Asia from an institutional perspective. By comparing high courts in Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, and the Philippines, the project will advance new arguments, test hypotheses about variations in political roles of courts, and explore the consequences of this expanded judicial role for state-society relations, the rule of law, and democratic governance in the region.