The Political Theory of Tyranny in Singapore and Burma: Aristotle and the rhetoric of benevolent despotism

Abstract

This book applies classical political theory to modern comparative political analysis in Southeast Asia to examine the role of rhetoric in maintaining or transforming a regime. Using Singapore and Burma as case studies, the book questions the basic assumptions of democratization theory, examines the political science of tyranny and explores the relationship between political culture and the role of rhetorical strategies aimed at securing political legitimacy. It shows how leaders in Singapore or Burma have either invented or manipulated traditional beliefs by their selective interpretation of Confucian or Buddhist traditions in their favor, and discusses the issue of imposing Western cultural bias in studying non-Western regimes by analyzing rhetorical traits that are universally regular in politics.