Abstract
Coalitions for and against particular accountability ideologies emerge in a dynamic political economy context. Towards identifying the main characteristics of such contexts, this chapter draws out the political regime significance of historical legacies – especially of the Cold War – and of contemporary capitalist and market relationships. Included here is discussion of the highly fragmented or underdeveloped nature of civil society in Southeast Asia and its implications for political coalitions. The blunting of powerful independent labour movements and social democratic political parties and movements linking civil and political society are highlighted. Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam are all analysed in these terms. The core argument of this chapter is that the social foundations of contemporary capitalism in Southeast Asia are favourable for moral ideologies of accountability exerting a pervasive influence.