The Roots of Resilience - by Meredith L Weiss (Paperback)

Book Synopsis

In The Roots of Resilience Meredith L. Weiss examines governance from the ground up in the world's two most enduring electoral authoritarian or "hybrid" regimes--Singapore and Malaysia--where politically liberal and authoritarian features blend, evading substantive democracy.

Weiss explains that while key attributes of these regimes differ, affecting the scope, character, and balance among national parties and policies, local machines, and personalized linkages, the similarity in the overall patterns in these countries confirms the salience of those dimensions. The Roots of Resilience shows that high levels of authoritarian acculturation, amplifying the political payoffs of what parties and politicians actually provide their constituents, explain why electoral turnover alone is insufficient for real regime change in either state.

Review Quotes

Roots of Resilience makes an important contribution to the literature on Malaysia and Singapore by providing historical depth and empirical richness to the argument that dominant parties reshape the political sphere to maximize their advantages. It will serve as a useful reference point in navigating the increasing uncertainty that the dominant parties of both countries face in the years ahead.

A timely analysis of regime durability in Singapore and Malaysia. Weiss has made a significant contribution to the literature on comparative politics, specifically in the subfield of transitology, or the study of why democratic transitions occur. Through her focus on the minutiae of grassroots politics, she has shown just how sophisticated electoral authoritarians have to be to remain in power, and how entrenched their dominance is.

About the Author

Meredith L. Weiss is Professor of Political Science in the Rockefeller College of Public Affairs and Policy at the University at Albany, State University of New York. Her previous books include Protest and Possibilities, Student Activism in Malaysia, and Mobilizing for Elections.