Globalization and Its Counter-forces in Southeast Asia

12. Reluctant Tigers: Economic Growth, Erratic Democratization Processes and Continuing Political Gender Inequality in Southeast Asia

279 Inequality in Southeast Asia 279 12 RELUCTANT TIGERS: ECONOMIC GROWTH, ERRATIC DEMOCRATIZATION PROCESSES AND CONTINUING POLITICAL GENDER INEQUALITY IN SOUTHEAST ASIA Elin Bjarnegård* INTRODUCTION: DEMOCRACY AND POLITICAL GENDER EQUALITY In all contemporary societies, women as a group continue to face social and political subordination. This is a fate women share with many other groups, the difference being that gender is a group that cuts across class as well as ethnicity and thus has equal bearing on all societies. One illustrative example, and, arguably, one of the most important keys to change, is the continued under-representation of women in politics. Women constitute 50 per cent of the world’s population, but only make up just over 14 per cent of the world’s political representatives at the beginning of the 21st century. Who holds political office, and who does not, has for centuries mirrored power relationship in societies. Important societal transformations have, however, seemed to hold a promise of change. Industrialization and economic growth lay the foundation for change by bringing subordinate groups forward to a place in the public sphere where new roles have been possible. Globalization has 279 12 G&CForces Ch 12 1/28/08, 12:29 PM 279 280 280 Elin Bjarnegård rendered these forces relevant to almost all societies. Democracy should, ideally, enhance equality in society and give everyone, including women, equal rights and possibilities to influence their situation. The general aim of this short study of Southeast Asia, and of Thailand in particular, is to investigate these complex societal transformations and their impact on politics and gender. While it is true that developments such as economic growth and democratization have impacted societies profoundly, it cannot be assumed that such complex processes will function in simple and predictable ways. There are, of course, important global indicators, drawn from statistical evidence, which can provide guidance in the right direction. In addition, it is important to focus on the extent and form of these processes as well as on the response of particular actors. This will enable us to better interpret and predict the impact that broad societal changes have on democratic arrangements affecting a variety of things, including women’s political representation. This chapter is mainly concerned with a more general investigation of the interaction between economic growth, value change, democratization, and political gender equality. It explores the different possible ways that economic development, commonly thought to be one of the most important driving factors behind democratization, may shape the constitutional and democratic processes affecting women. Embedded in most definitions of democracy is an implicit principle of equality. For the people to rule a state, we expect a power-sharing principle that regards all adult citizens as equals so that all have effective equal rights to take part in the decision-making and all votes have equal bearing on the election result. There are thus two main principles of democracy: popular control and equality.1 Anne Phillips also states that traditions of feminism and democracy have much in common as they both strive for equality and against arbitrary power. Although democratic theory builds on a principle of equality, democracy in practice, however, need not be inclusive. Phillips emphasizes that sexual inequality is built into the very foundations of classical and contemporary thought so that democratic theory itself cements the unequal gender-order. When liberal democracy abolishes distinctions based on gender or other differences it strives to make differences politically irrelevant and protects individual freedoms. The problem is that the differences already are highly relevant to politics in today’s society.2 It is therefore of utmost importance to bring women, as a social category, into decision-making bodies. Democracy was thought to enable women to exert political influence, and thus bring about quick changes in policies affecting gender relations.3 Inglehart and Norris also point to the fact that the level of democratization is likely to promote women’s political participation by creating widespread 12 G&CForces Ch 12 1/28/08, 12:29 PM 280 281 Inequality in Southeast Asia 281 political and civil liberties, strengthening parties and institutionalizing political recruitment procedures.4 Despite all these connections, there does not seem to be a very strong link between women in power and the democratic-ness of the political system. The mean percentage of women in parliaments worldwide in 2004 was slightly more than 14 per cent. This number is only slightly higher...