Tanjiro.Kamado
Active member
While the Philippines is plagued with corruption, abuses of power, media censorship, and political killings, it manifested more democracy compared to the other countries in Southeast Asia. This makes it a more preferable system of governance than the monarchies and dictator that was prevalent in the region then.
Vietnam is one-party and it has an oppressive internet regulating structure where it is officially allowed and permitted simply because it offers for the state’s inhabitants. The current government can be classified as a democratic nation but in a real sense it is a monarchy the military being in charge of a dictatorship that is overseen by the king. While Malaysia is relatively more democratic than most of the ASEAN countries, its monarchy plays a role in deciding who will be leading Malaysia; based on the election results, the King has the authority to appoint any leader of his or her choice.
Similar to the Philippines in terms of democracy but unlike it Indonesia still has its Sharia laws and Islamic conservatism which leads to oppression of women. Although Singapore is relatively small, developed, and efficient, it operates as a semi-authoritarian state with elections controlled by the same party, which has been in power since 1965. From the above countries, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar are not democracies. Timor-Leste is more democratic but affected by the problem of being a small and poor country. This context accurately places the Philippines in a more positive light and as a stronger democracy in relation to other countries in the SEA region.
Vietnam is one-party and it has an oppressive internet regulating structure where it is officially allowed and permitted simply because it offers for the state’s inhabitants. The current government can be classified as a democratic nation but in a real sense it is a monarchy the military being in charge of a dictatorship that is overseen by the king. While Malaysia is relatively more democratic than most of the ASEAN countries, its monarchy plays a role in deciding who will be leading Malaysia; based on the election results, the King has the authority to appoint any leader of his or her choice.
Similar to the Philippines in terms of democracy but unlike it Indonesia still has its Sharia laws and Islamic conservatism which leads to oppression of women. Although Singapore is relatively small, developed, and efficient, it operates as a semi-authoritarian state with elections controlled by the same party, which has been in power since 1965. From the above countries, Brunei, Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar are not democracies. Timor-Leste is more democratic but affected by the problem of being a small and poor country. This context accurately places the Philippines in a more positive light and as a stronger democracy in relation to other countries in the SEA region.
Despite challenges, its commitment to democracy is admirable. 
