When we discuss essentially the most special and unique thing in Southeast Asia, many things come to mind, reminiscent of the range of religions, many delicious foods, and wonderful landscapes. However, it is usually value the range of governance systems in Southeast Asia, because almost every country in Southeast Asia has a unique government system, however the relationships between countries are relatively stable.
Monarchy
Only a couple of countries still practice absolute monarchy, and certainly one of them is Brunei Darussalam in Southeast Asia. In Brunei, the present Sultan, Hassanal Bolkiah, exercises full executive power, being each head of state and head of presidency.
The next ruling system is essentially the most common monarchy on the planet, called constitutional monarchy. There are two countries in Southeast Asia with this technique of presidency: Thailand and Cambodia. In this technique of presidency, the king serves as head of state, but his role is especially symbolic since the prime minister has more significant executive power as head of presidency.
Southeast Asia has one other monarchical system of presidency called federal constitutional monarchy, which is currently practiced by Malaysia. In this kind of monarchy, the top of state shouldn’t be absolute and changes every five years among the many sultans of different states of Malaysia. The head of presidency can also be supported by the prime minister.
Presidential and Parliamentary Republic
Democracy also flourished quite well in Southeast Asia, where Indonesia and the Philippines practiced a presidential republic system of presidency. In Indonesia, each president would have a five-year term, extendable for an additional term within the event of re-election. Meanwhile, within the Philippines, the elected president would serve a six-year term without the opportunity of re-election.
East Timor can also be technically a presidential republic, but a totally different one than Indonesia or the Philippines. Timor-Leste’s system of presidency is kind of unique in that they’ve each a President and a Prime Minister who share executive powers. The idea is that each the President and the Prime Minister shouldn’t have unchecked power.
Another kind of republic that exists in Southeast Asia is parliamentary republics, with Singapore being the one country to practice it. Singapore has each a president and a main minister, with the president as head of state and the prime minister as head of presidency. However, unlike a presidential republic, the president has only ceremonial functions, while the prime minister has more significant executive power.
Socialism
The exact opposite of democracy, socialism, may also be present in Southeast Asia. There are two one-party communist states in Southeast Asia: Vietnam and Laos. In these two countries, just one party has full control of state power. They organize elections, but it surely seems completely pointless since the candidates at all times come from the identical party.
Military junta
Unfortunately, the Southeast Asian country, together with Burma, can also be ruled by a military junta. The people of Myanmar didn’t ask for this because they voted for Nobel Peace Prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi as their leader within the 2020 Myanmar general election. Unfortunately, three months later, the Tatmadaw or Burma armed forces led by Min Aung Hlaing staged a coup and arrested Aung San Suu Kyi.
Min Aung Hlaing has since taken power and has ruled as leader until now. However, after the coup, the people of Burma are still not giving up because in the intervening time the civil war remains to be ongoing. Not only is the resistance around Burma still alive, but some reports say it is usually winning.
