Publication Type

Journal Article

Version

publishedVersion

Publication Date

12-2023

Abstract

In authoritarian systems, ethnic power-sharing arrangements include important ethnic groups in government and decision-making while putting restraints on political competition. However, under conditions of democratization, we might expect power-sharing arrangements to fragment as political parties seize opportunities to expand their base and appeal across ethnic lines. This article draws from the case of Malaysia, where multiethnic coalitions built around ethnic parties ruled for 61 years but where increasing electoral competitiveness has destabilized coalition politics. I focus on the Democratic Action Party (DAP), one of the country's most successful parties, which has sought to build a more multiethnic support base. I show that its attempts have been stymied by enduring norms of ethnically informed coalition building and efforts to protect existing ethnic bases by both rivals and allies. The findings shed light on the barriers to ethnic party adaptation and on why power-sharing practices remain so enduring, even in more fluid and democratic political environments.

Keywords

Ethnic power sharing, political parties, party adaptation, ethnic politics, Malaysia

Discipline

Asian Studies | Political Science | Race and Ethnicity

Research Areas

Political Science

Publication

Journal of Current Southeast Asian Affairs

First Page

1

Last Page

22

ISSN

1868-4882

Identifier

10.1177/18681034231219460

Publisher

SAGE Publications

Copyright Owner and License

Authors CC-BY

Additional URL

https://doi.org/10.1177/18681034231219460

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