Abstract
The Kingdom of Cambodia has experienced a threefold transformation in the last thirty years: from civil war to post-war reconstruction; from a socialist one-party state to multiparty autocracy; and from a centrally planned economy to a market economy. However, most political scientists seem to agree that Cambodia witnessed creeping autocratization in recent years. With no opposition in parliament, strongman Hun Sen is looking to prepare for a one-day transfer of power to his successor. Three factors in particular buffer the stability of his rule. First, Beijing will probably continue to help to sustain Hun Sen’s rule in the coming years. Second, the legitimacy of Hun Sen’s rule is based on his past and current successes in bringing peace, stability, and basic economic development to a war-torn country. In the long term, social and economic transformations may produce conditions that would weaken the regime’s time-proven systems of control. Meanwhile, there is little indication for such a development, especially since the opposition is too weak to initiate a peaceful mass uprising against the regime. Third, although not all members of the regime’s inner circle may welcome hereditary succession, it has the advantage that it does not invite for a struggle for power between senior elites that would threaten regime survival. History suggests that for the CPP elites, survival comes first. This chapter provides a systematic overview of the political actors, institutions, and dynamics of Cambodia’s political system and summarizes its history and recent developments.
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Notes
- 1.
A quarter of senators are necessary to appeal for a posteriori review.
- 2.
Law on the Establishment of the Extraordinary Chambers, with inclusion of amendments as promulgated on October 27, 2004 (NS/RKM/1004/006).
- 3.
Khmer People’s National Liberation Armed Forces and National Army of Independent Kampuchea; the Khmer Rouge army faction (National Army of Democratic Kampuchea or NDAK) boycotted the disarmament and demobilization process.
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Croissant, A. (2022). Cambodia: From UN-Led Peace-Building to Post-Genocidal Authoritarianism. In: Comparative Politics of Southeast Asia. Springer Texts in Political Science and International Relations. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-05114-2_3
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