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A comparative analysis of populist politics between Malaysia and Indonesia during electoral contestation; and the imminent threat to democracy
Thesis   Open access

A comparative analysis of populist politics between Malaysia and Indonesia during electoral contestation; and the imminent threat to democracy

Sharifah Alawiyah Syed Hussien
Masters by Research, Murdoch University
2021
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Abstract

Populism played a prominent role in elections held in both Indonesia and Malaysia in 2019 and 2018 respectively, which showed cross regional similarities in terms of strategies employed by populist candidates and elites albeit with different outcomes. This thesis will argue that through the use of nativist and religious rhetoric, this brought forth ‘unlikely alliances’ of nationalist and Islamist coalition’s, reframing of economic issues in identity terms and a counter populism invoking an idea of a pluralist national citizenship in both democracies. This in turn can allow populism to hinder the development of democratic values and principles through illiberalism, anti-pluralism and democratic decline in terms of diminished minority rights. This thesis will propose that populism played a significant part in electoral campaigns in both elections and served to shape their respective outcomes.

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